Moving from Tampa, FL, to Chicago, IL

Choose your adventure in the Windy City

Are you ready for life in “The Windy City” of Chicago, IL? Moving nearly 1,200 miles from Tampa to Chicago means forging your path in a much larger city — the third-largest in the U.S. 

Chicago is an expansive city of 2.7 million people and 9.6 million in the metro. Tampa is smaller, with just under 385,000 residents and 3.2 million in the metro. 

Get ready for a change in climate, culture and more as you make way for adventure in Chicago. 

Snow-covered winters and mild summers in Chicago 

The climate in Chicago is much different than what you’re used to in Tampa. Winters are much colder, with average lows of 19 degrees and around 35 inches of snow. Snow is rare in Tampa, and it rarely drops below 52 degrees in the winter. It’s definitely time to invest in a good winter coat before the season. 

Summers are also a bit cooler in Chicago, with average highs around 84 degrees, compared to 90 degrees in Tampa. You can expect fewer sunny days when moving out of The Sunshine State — 189 days in Chicago compared to 246 in Tampa.  

Chicago's annual rainfall averages around 38 inches, slightly less than the 51 inches in Tampa’s tropical environment. 

Explore Chicago by day or night 

Chicago is vibrant whether you explore it during the day or at night. Nightlife comes alive with multiple entertainment venues and restaurants in the walkable city. 

During the day, check out one of these fun venues: 

  • Cloud Gate at Millennium Park (“The Bean” sculpture) 
  • Field Museum 
  • Lincoln Park Zoo 
  • Museum of Science and Industry 
  • The Art Institute of Chicago 
  • Wrigley Field 

Finding a job in Chicago 

The cost of living in Chicago is higher than in Tampa. Plus, unlike Florida, Illinois has income taxes. Fortunately, the job market is more extensive, with higher average salaries. 

Business and Finance are key industries, with Deloitte, Ford Motor Company, Nestle and JP Morgan Chase being major employers. 

Other large sectors include education, engineering, government, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and transportation.  

Move north to Illinois with U-Pack

Through our network of nationwide service centers, including locations near Tampa and Chicago, U-Pack® can help make your move affordable and stress-free. We’re a self-moving service where you do the packing, loading and unloading, and we handle the driving. Get your free online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.