157. Why I Changed My Mind About Where I Want to Live | Chicago to LA Q+A (very honest)

I’m officially back in Los Angeles after living in Chicago for the past year and a half, and in this episode, I’m walking through the full decision behind that move. This is not a dramatic story - it's a clear reflection of what happens when you try something new, gather real data from your life, and then make a decision that actually aligns with what you value. I break down why I moved to Chicago in the first place, why it ultimately did not work for me, and what made Los Angeles the right fit again. We also get into a full comparison of Chicago vs LA, including lifestyle differences, social culture, career opportunities, and day-to-day quality of life. If you are thinking about moving, feeling stuck where you are, or questioning whether a big life change is the right move, this episode will give you a grounded and practical framework for thinking through that decision. Get Your Roadway Quote with my code YOURBUDGET10: https://rdwaymov.co/4b4Pgeq Subscribe to Beyond Your Budget: https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/ Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/p/your-personal-finance-starter-kit BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES: 💸 Personal Finance Dashboard: https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard 💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template 💸 FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template 💸 RENT VS. BUY CALCULATOR https://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator 💳 Tools + Cards I Use: Rakuten Cash Back: https://shorturl.at/w0PcH SoFi HYSA: https://secure.money.com/pr/pa5344bfc4f2 AmEx Platinum: https://tinyurl.com/2zx4vura Bilt Rewards: https://tinyurl.com/4kd8s33a Blue Cash Everyday: https://tinyurl.com/yrcbr2ac All Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links 👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: michela@breakyourbudget.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/ 📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget 📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa 💸 My ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/michelaallocca TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Life update: moving back to LA 02:00 – Why I chose to move to Chicago 07:40 – Why I decided to leave Chicago 14:00 – Why LA fits my life better now 16:00 – Renting vs buying and long-term plans 18:00 – Cost of living: LA vs Chicago breakdown 24:00 – Chicago vs LA: pros and cons 38:30 – How this move will change my content 42:00 – How I budgeted and planned the move 50:00 – What I learned and final reflections