![Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]? The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com](https://www.artofhappymoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/City-window.jpg "Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]?")
People ask me for advice at all stages of the moving process from how to tell the kids to how to meet people in a new city. Before you get to that point, though, you want to figure out if the hassle of moving is worth it. Then, after you decide that it is the right time to move, you get to the next question. “Should I move to Seattle (or Boise or Miami)?” Here are some things to consider before you move to another city.
Should I move . . . in general?
A friend of mine who has lived in Skokie, IL, his entire life told me, “I’m sure I’ll want to move after I read your book.” This surprised me. “Why would you move?” I asked him. “You love where you live.”
To set the record straight, I’m not a moving advocate. If you’re happy where you are, by all means, don’t change a thing. I’m here to help make your move a happier one, if you decide to move. You don’t need to move to be happy.
![Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]? The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com](https://artofhappymoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Walking-300x200.jpg)
Where do you want to go in life?
Should I move to Atlanta, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C.?
Maybe you’re looking for a change or maybe you have job interviews lined up in several cities. How do you decide where to move when you don’t live nearby?
Consider the cost of living in the new city as well as the opportunity cost of not moving
Moving is expensive and the cost alone can deter some people from moving. Then, there’s the additional hurdle of moving to a city that’s more expensive than where you live now. If you’re wondering, “Should I move to Silicon Valley?” and you plug that into a cost of living calculator, the answer you’ll get is, “No.” But, what about the cost of not moving for a life-changing opportunity? Weigh both sides of the equation.
![Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]? The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com](https://artofhappymoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Job-opportunity-300x200.jpg)
How would you feel if you didn’t take the job?
Visit online forums and ask, “Should I move to [insert city name here]?”
Go onto Reddit or the City-Data forums and ask whether moving to New York City is a good idea. You will get plenty of advice from locals and newcomers. It’s a good way to discover information that you won’t find out by googling “New York City”. You’ll learn some colorful city facts, which may help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Investigate housing options (and please rent)
Start looking at houses to buy and apartments to rent. On my resources page, you can find links to the most popular housing websites. Even though I recommend looking at places to buy, please, please rent if you are moving to a city you don’t know well. Want to know why? Here’s my (strong) opinion on this one.
Figure out what you love about where you live now
Dan and I made the mistake of moving to a city that wasn’t a good fit for us. While we made a pros and cons list of moving to Knoxville, we ignored a critical part. We didn’t write down the daily things we loved about living in Chicago. If I had been more aware of what made me happy and created a city gratitude journal, I would’ve had a better understanding of what I was leaving behind. So, before you make your decision about whether to move, write down three reasons every day about why you feel grateful to live where you live now.
![Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]? The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com](https://artofhappymoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/love-where-you-live-300x200.jpg)
What do you love about where you live now?
Visit the new city to see if you would be happy living there
If you’re asking, “Should I move to Chicago?”, then you need to visit Chicago – but not as a tourist. There’ll be time for The Bean when you actually live there. You need to act like a local for this scouting visit. If possible, rent a place for a few days in the neighborhood where you’d most like to live. Then, make your commute to work in rush hour traffic. Visit Target, the local shops, and the home improvement stores because that’s really where you’ll be spending your time on weekends. Go back to your city gratitude journal and see if you can still do the activities that bring you joy.
![Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]? The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com](https://artofhappymoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Chicago-Bean-300x200.jpg)
There’ll be time for the touristy stuff later.
Remember that you have a choice
One predictor of happiness in life is the feeling that we have choices. I’ve spoken to people who felt as if they needed to move because of a job or to provide for their family. Recognize that you do have a choice. Maybe the alternate scenario isn’t ideal – you never planned to live in your parents’ basement with your husband and kids – but you do have options. You are in control of your future, even if it’s not on the exact timeline that you imagined.
![Should I Move To [Insert City Name Here]? The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com](https://artofhappymoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/View-of-the-city-300x200.jpg)
You have options.
42 comments
I love how you lay out everything people should take into consideration perfectly. Sometimes we are so rush about making a change that we forget that we need to think things thru first. Great Post!
I love how you get so detailed with every point we have to take into consideration, thank you for that. Sometimes we what to make a change so bad we forget to evaluate the good and the bad.
Deciding whether to move or not is not an easy decision. If you have a job better opportunity elsewhere or maybe you aren’t happy were you live then you should consider moving but is very important to do the math first and make sure you have enough money to cover your expenses.
Moving is never an easy decision. Great Post!
Thanks, Haley!
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This is great advice for anyone considering a move! Evaluating both short-term and long-term goals helps ensure the decision aligns with personal and professional aspirations. The example about career advancement Royal Orchid versus family time is particularly insightful, as it highlights the importance of prioritizing what truly matters. Taking the time to reflect on these factors can lead to a more informed and fulfilling decision.
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This is such a thoughtful and practical approach to the moving process! It’s great that you emphasize the importance of weighing the pros and cons before making such a big decision. Moving can be both exciting and overwhelming, and your advice to carefully consider whether it’s the right time and place to relocate is spot on. Eco-Friendly Tours
“This is such a helpful guide for anyone considering a move! Aligning personal and career goals with relocation decisions is crucial. I love the idea of writing down one-year and five-year goals to ensure the move makes sense long-term. The example about career advancement vs. family time really puts things into perspective. I’ll definitely check out your post on designing life after moving. Do you have any tips for someone torn between Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.?”5 days Private Tour
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This is such a refreshing take! So many blogs and books try to convince people that relocating is the key to happiness, but your message is different and honest. It’s great to see someone acknowledge that happiness can be found where you are—and that moving is a personal choice, not a requirement. I love how your writing empowers people to make decisions that are best for them, not based on pressure or trends.Scottsdale hotels
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One of the biggest advantages of choosing the Northern circuit route is the opportunity to experience local culture. Travelers can visit traditional communities, explore local markets, taste regional food, and learn about customs that have been passed down through generations. Meeting local people and experiencing their everyday way of life can make a trip much more meaningful than simply visiting popular tourist attractions.