New College grad, Moving to Chicago, Any tips? (fit in, apartments)

[dazzlingdolphins]

Hey I'm going to be moving to Chicago next summer and was wondering what places would be good to live as a new college grad who doesn't know anyone in the city. I did a little bit of research and I was thinking South loop but what do y'all think? I'm Nigerian so I was wondering if there were any nigerian/african communities I could tap into? I'd also appreciate any moving tips you have because I know it can be super expensive and that's something I'm concerned about. Thank you!

[carnelian]

South loop may be all right, but it depends on your budget and space needs. The South side is generally less expensive than the more popular northside neighborhoods. Apartments above businesses are cheaper. It also depends on your access to public trans, perhaps, and places im portant to you.

[Treeman1]

Uptown and Rogers Park have noticeable Nigerian communities. Possibly Edgewater too.

That's a bit of a trip from South Loop (30/40 minutes by bus or train), and the neighborhood is a bit sleepy and quiet. Nothing wrong with that - hell, I live there - but it isn't a very exciting or social neighborhood.

Shockingly cheap properties though.

[citylove101]

Simple moving tip (My own kids have moved this way):

Sell as much as you can before moving, especially large pieces of furniture like beds, sofas, desks, tables, cabinets, even a big screen TV. These are expensive to move. With the money, buy new stuff when you find a place. All your other smaller stuff can fit into a rental van (not a truck) or even into your car. Until all your stuff gets to the new place sleep on a blow up mattress or stay a few nights in a motel, finances permitting.

Wherever you live consider this: Have at least two ways to physically get to work, and have secured parking for your car if one of those two ways is by car. The primary focus of getting a new place should be how much it costs (you give no housing budget) and how easy it is to get to work (I presume that since you're moving to the city, you will have a office location and won't be working remotely).

Yes, South Loop, from what I'm learning from friends and relatives in ChiTown, is increasingly popular among young Black professionals. I don't know where the Nigerian diaspora is in Chicago, but remember that public transit in the city is pretty strong, so even if you don't live in the community it probably won't be a heavy lift to get there when you want to.

[mooryaan]

im a few months late but rogers park has a fair bit of nigerians, its also the neighborhood the school loyola is in.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Check Rogers Park and Uptown according to this thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskChicago/...ty_in_chicago/