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With over 2.7 million residents, Chicago is listed as the third most populated state in the US. It has many stunning sight-seeing destinations and landmarks – The Magnificent Mall, Willis Tower, and Navy Pier are just to name a few.
Although, Chicago is one of the most expensive US states, the quality of life for a mediocre person who has a choice to select what city he is in, Chicago is certainly one of the best places to live in. That’s why a lot of entrepreneurs and startups are considering to relocate their businesses from highly overrated US cities to Chicago.
Chicago has also been listed as one of the best metro areas for both corporate relocation and investment in Site Selection Magazine. According to this publication, factors such as accommodation, transit-driven development, a huge variety of locations with future for business campuses makes Chicago one of the best places to run a business. In other words, Chicago can be considered as a corporate hotspot for new and existing businesses relocating from other US states.
To recall, McDonald’s announced plans to relocate its Oak Brook HQ to Fulton Market back in 2016. Similarly, famous food-processing company ConAgra also moved its Omaha HQ to River North in 2018. GE Healthcare also relocated its UK headquarters to Chicago. Lastly, the popular in-flight Wi-Fi services company called ‘GoGo’ also moves its HQ from Itasca to the West Loop.
What Makes Chicago Really Worth Moving to?
Chicago is one of the best places to move for both residential and commercial purposes. Below you will find some of the reasons that make Chicago one of the most underrated cities in the US.
The best thing about Chicago is the local people living there. “I simply adore the courtesy, I love the respect and friendliness Chicagoans showed when I was there,” says Anton Halushka, The C.E.O. of CaliforniaMoversUSA. So, apart from other technical reasons, one thing is certain that you’ll be having a great time surrounded by amazing people in Chicago. As far as the other reasons are concerned, make sure to go through this post till the end to get a better idea.
The Cost Factor
Unlike other expensive states such as New York, San Francisco or LA, Chicago rent is extremely reasonable for exorbitant buildings. For instance, the average rent in New York is around $1,086 which is nearly $886 in Chicago. Also, renters are not bound to pay broker’s charges in Chicago yet they can expect to find luxurious residential or commercial locations for themselves.
Even if someone is interested in buying a property in Chicago, it’s easier to find a place priced at $600 per square foot which is around $6,000 in the cosmopolitan state of New York.
In fact, it’s not only about the real estate prices, as relocating from LA or SF to Chicago means your groceries prices reduced to 25% to 30% and your utilities drop down 47%.
The Environmental Factor
Chicago is believed to be one of the cleanliest US states. This is perhaps because there are passageways, so no trash is ever seen on the streets. Also, the streets are wider than usual as the city had a privilege of restoration and repair back in 1871. Wider streets are one of the biggest reasons you’ll never witness the crowding of huge buildings (although, out of the 10 tallest architectures in North America, Chicago acquires 4). These buildings are occupied by diversified business segments including consulting, tech, banking and the like.
Apart from great business activities, healthy competition and hundreds and thousands of reasons to grow and excel, the city has a lot to offer in terms of great personal life. Chicago has mesmerizing beaches, lush green parks, and an amazing nightlife. In fact, if you choose Michigan Avenue as your upcoming office destination, you can daily take a walk on Oak Street Beach which is just a few steps away from the building.
If your area of work demands often traveling, Chicago’s airport is conveniently accessible from the main city. Plus, as Chicago is centrally located, it takes not more than 2 to 4 hours to head over to other major cities such as New York, Colorado or California.
The above-mentioned perks are certainly the biggest reason why lots of overseas companies are showing interest in relocating their business to Chicago. Also, brands who wish to ditch the suburban areas are also considering Chicago as an option to move their headquarters.
Business Opportunities
When it comes to business relocation, Chicago certainly is one of the most sought-after options in 2019. Chicago also hopes to inaugurate a new Apple campus soon which is expected to bring over 20,000 new job opportunities for the workers. Also, Google is planning to open its new operations center in Chicago.
In conclusion, Chicago has something for everyone. Whether you’re planning to relocate your existing business from any other state to Chicago or want to establish a startup from scratch, Chicago can be a perfect choice. Also, the cost of living is relatively reasonable if compared with other metro cities such as New York, Los Angeles or the Silicon Valley.
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This content is sponsored by Vivek Kumar Singh.
Photo: Shutterstock