Big City Relocation Guide

Moving to a big city? Learn it before you land.

Go Big City is a free, city-by-city guide to moving to America’s biggest cities. How the trains work, how renting works, what winter is really like, and what you’ll actually pay, explained one question at a time.

Start with Chicago →See all 9 cities
Questions we answer
01How does the ‘L’ work in Chicago?
02What should you know before renting?
03How bad are the winters, really?
04Which neighborhoods suit newcomers?

Choose a city

9 cities · Chicago and New York are live

ChicagoThe Chicago area, from the Loop to the suburbsGuide live→ New YorkThe five boroughs and the wider New York areaGuide live→ DallasDallas, Fort Worth and the MetroplexComing soon→ AtlantaThe Atlanta areaComing soon→ AustinThe Austin areaComing soon→ DenverThe Denver areaComing soon→ HoustonThe Houston areaComing soon→ MiamiThe Miami areaComing soon→ NashvilleThe Nashville areaComing soon→

What every city guide answers

The same questions, city by city

01Getting aroundHow the trains and buses work, what they cost, and whether you need a car.
02RentingLocal lease customs, deposits and fees, and how apartment hunting really works.
03Cost of livingRent, utilities and everyday costs, in real numbers with sources.
04TaxesIncome, sales and other taxes, and what they mean for your budget.
05WeatherWhat each season is really like, and what to buy before your first one.
06JobsThe biggest employers, main industries and what the job market looks like.
07NeighborhoodsWhere people live, what each area feels like, and who it suits.
08Moving logisticsChecklists, timing, movers and your first 30 days in a new city.
How we write the guides

Facts first. Sources shown. Dates on everything.

Every guide is researched from official and established sources and reviewed before it’s published. See how we research.

  • One question per articleA direct answer first, then as much depth as the topic needs.
  • Every number has a sourceRent, fares and tax rates link to where they came from.
  • Kept up to dateEach article shows when it was last checked, and is reviewed at least once a year.
  • Free and independentNo sign-up, and no business pays to be mentioned.

Frequently asked questions

About Go Big City

Is Go Big City free?

Yes. Every guide is free to read, with no sign-up and no paid listings.

Which cities do you cover?

Chicago is first. New York and Dallas are next, followed by Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Houston, Miami and Nashville.

How current is the information?

Each article shows the date it was last updated, and numbers like rent and taxes link to their source so you can check them yourself.

Do the guides cover the suburbs?

Yes. Each guide covers the whole metro area, because many people who move to a big city end up in a nearby suburb.

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