{"id":122201,"date":"2022-08-11T00:53:53","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T07:53:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=122201"},"modified":"2026-02-11T05:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:50:37","slug":"how-to-move-to-a-big-city-from-a-small-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/moving\/how-to-move-to-a-big-city-from-a-small-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to a Big City from a Small Town: A Quick \u201cHow To\u201d Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can probably still recall the butterflies in your stomach, the anxiety, the feeling of loneliness or uncertainty that you felt on the first day of high school. That was your body\u2019s way of telling you: \u201cYou\u2019re in danger. Change is dangerous!\u201d But it wasn\u2019t all so bad, was it? You surely survived if you\u2019re reading this right now. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The fear of change is normal and will pop up multiple times throughout your life, including when you decide to move to a big city from a small town. If you\u2019ve already made the decision, you probably feel the same as you did on your first day of high school. If so, consider that the best way to control fear is by planning every single step you need to take in order to navigate this massive life shift. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving to a big city from a small town requires some mental preparation since big cities are more crowded, fast-paced and expensive than small towns. However, they also have better opportunities for education, jobs and entertainment. So, it\u2019s no wonder that <\/span>Gen Z renters are now moving to large urban areas<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019re one of them or you just want to broaden your horizons, here are the steps you should follow to make your transition from a small town to a big city as smooth as possible: <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Know the City\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

Knowing the city you\u2019re relocating to is like knowing the person you want to marry \u2014 which means you should do your research before saying \u201cyes.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First and foremost, <\/span>find out the cost of living<\/span><\/a> in your city of choice to get an idea of your future life there. If what you find out is encouraging enough, dig a little deeper. Look into the neighborhoods, crime rates and employment opportunities. While you\u2019re at it, check out the quality of the public schools, universities and other learning services. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As for recreational facilities, big cities are filled with parks, restaurants, museums, sports clubs and malls, so you\u2019re bound to find something to your liking. To be able to say \u201cyes\u201d confidently, use all the resources you can access \u2014 the city\u2019s official website, local blogs, virtual tours, social media, etc. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Find a Job BEFORE Moving<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

The cost of living is undoubtedly higher in big cities, as you may know. Therefore, ensuring financial stability before relocating is the smartest move you can make. Don\u2019t make the mistake of thinking that a great job will emerge out of nowhere right after you\u2019ve moved. The chances of that happening are pretty low. So be prepared! Nowadays, there are many websites that can help you find a job tailored to your needs and personality: Glassdoor, Monster, FlexJobs, Indeed and ZipRecruiter are just some of them. To that end, keep your r<\/span>\u00e9<\/span>sum<\/span>\u00e9<\/span> updated and consistent, and don\u2019t overlook the importance of your LinkedIn profile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Save Up a Substantial Amount of Money <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

Even if you have an excellent job with decent monthly pay, you never know what challenges might come up along the way. For example, what if your payday comes after the rent is due or you realize that food is insanely expensive after you\u2019ve already moved in? Likewise, you might also encounter unexpected expenses in the big city, like utility or security deposits, parking tickets and packing supplies. If you opt for a moving company, they might charge you additional fees. What\u2019s more, your new rental will probably require some new furniture and appliances. Of course, you can\u2019t predict with certainty how much all of this will cost and what other expenses are bound to lighten your wallet. That\u2019s why confronting challenges is always easier with a fat bank account.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Find a Rental<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

So, you have the money, the job and you\u2019re ready to start your urban adventure. But you also need a place to call home, right? That’s why finding a rental should be a top priority. While a city apartment can be pricey, it also provides immediate access to the job market and other amenities \u2014 like groceries, medical services, shopping spots, entertainment and transportation options. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, you can conduct a quick and easy search on <\/span>rentcafe<\/span>.com<\/span><\/a> to look for apartments for rent. Make sure that those that are available are spacious enough for your needs, but also try to stay grounded \u2013 big cities are more likely to offer smaller spaces for higher prices. With that in mind, check out this <\/span>RentCafe study<\/span><\/a> that shows you how much space you can get for a monthly rent of $1,500 in America\u2019s largest cities. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, <\/span>finding the perfect rental<\/span> in the ideal neighborhood relies on your research skills \u2014 so don\u2019t get lazy when reading blogs, news, reviews and apartment listing websites.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Make New Friends (But Keep the Old)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

Just like in high school, adjusting to new environments is smoother if you have supportive friends who understand your struggles. Although moving to a big city from a small town might seem like a social disaster because you have to say a lot of goodbyes, it also gives you the chance to meet exciting new people. Our advice is to use the internet (again!) to connect with locals from the city you\u2019re moving to. Knowing you\u2019re not alone in such a vast urban area will also make you feel safe and less homesick. As for your old friends, we have the answer: Yes, you guessed it \u2014 the internet! Take advantage of the digital era and enjoy life in a big city. It\u2019s going to be a great experience!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You can probably still recall the butterflies in your stomach, the anxiety, the feeling of loneliness or uncertainty that you felt on the first day of high school. That was your body\u2019s way of telling you: \u201cYou\u2019re in danger. Change is dangerous!\u201d But it wasn\u2019t all so bad, was it? You surely survived if you\u2019re…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2995,"featured_media":122213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38970],"tags":[38982],"class_list":["post-122201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-moving","tag-prep-your-move","gallery-content-unit"],"yoast_head":"\nGuide for moving from a small town to a big city<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here's everything you need to know to make your transition from a small town to a big city as smooth as possible!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/moving\/how-to-move-to-a-big-city-from-a-small-town\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Moving to a Big City from a Small Town: A Quick \u201cHow To\u201d Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here's everything you need to know to make your transition from a small town to a big city as smooth as possible!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/moving\/how-to-move-to-a-big-city-from-a-small-town\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RentCafe rental blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-08-11T07:53:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-11T13:50:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/pexels-daria-shevtsova-3597111.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" 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