Moving to the US checklist: what to do before and after you land in the United States
A step-by-step checklist for your move to the United States, from documents and money before you fly to SSN, banking, housing and credit in your first 90 days.
State Guides
City-by-city breakdowns of neighborhoods, rent, commutes, weather and what daily life actually feels like.
Start here
Choosing where to live shapes almost everything about your first year: rent, commute, climate, community and job options. These guides compare major US metros the way newcomers actually decide, starting with commute and cost.
East Coast
Moving to New York City: the newcomer’s guide7 min Moving to Boston: a student city with serious winters3 min Moving to Miami: a bilingual city with real trade-offs3 min Moving to Atlanta: space, jobs and southern hospitality3 min Moving to Philadelphia: East Coast city life for less3 min Moving to Washington, D.C.: jobs, neighborhoods and Metro3 minWest Coast
Bay Area on a budget: neighborhoods that still make sense3 min Moving to Los Angeles: how to pick a neighborhood3 min Moving to Seattle: tech jobs, rain and no income tax3 min Moving to San Diego: beaches, biotech and mild weather3 minCentral & South
Moving to Chicago: big-city life at a Midwest price3 min Moving to Austin: jobs, heat and no state income tax3 min Moving to Houston: energy, medicine and diverse communities3 min Moving to Dallas: neighborhoods, jobs and cost of living3 min Moving to Denver: mountains, sunshine and a growing job market3 min Moving to Phoenix: desert living, heat safety and costs3 min Moving to Raleigh-Durham: the Research Triangle explained3 min Moving to Minneapolis: lakes, winters and strong communities3 min Moving to Nashville: neighborhoods, jobs and cost of living7 min Moving to Charlotte: banking jobs, neighborhoods and daily life7 min Moving to Las Vegas: life beyond the Strip7 minChoosing where to live
Best US cities for immigrants: how to choose3 min Cheapest states to live in the US: what “cheap” really means3 min Moving to the US checklist: what to do before and after you land in the United States10 min Texas vs California cost of living: which one leaves you with more?6 min24 guides
Moving to New York City: the newcomer’s guide
Where to live, what rent really costs, how the subway works and exactly what to set up in your first two weeks.
Moving to Austin: jobs, heat and no state income tax
Why tech workers keep choosing Austin, what summers are like, and why you will probably need a car.
Moving to Nashville: neighborhoods, jobs and cost of living
Music City has become a healthcare, tech and finance hub. Neighborhoods by lifestyle, what no state income tax means, getting around, weather and what newcomers wish they’d known.
Moving to Charlotte: banking jobs, neighborhoods and daily life
Charlotte is one of the biggest banking centers in the US, with a mild climate and lower costs than the Northeast. Where to live, commutes, taxes and what to expect.
Bay Area on a budget: neighborhoods that still make sense
Commute times, rent ranges and trade-offs across San Francisco, the Peninsula and the East Bay.
Moving to Las Vegas: life beyond the Strip
No state income tax, a growing job market and desert heat. Neighborhoods locals actually live in, costs, schools, water, and what daily life is like away from the casinos.
Moving to Miami: a bilingual city with real trade-offs
Spanish helps, hurricane season is serious, and car insurance costs more than you expect.
Moving to Chicago: big-city life at a Midwest price
Neighborhoods, the L train, winter prep and why Chicago rent surprises coastal newcomers.
Moving to Seattle: tech jobs, rain and no income tax
What Seattle is really like for tech workers and students, from neighborhoods to the gray months.
Moving to Atlanta: space, jobs and southern hospitality
A fast-growing job market, larger apartments for the money and a city built around driving.
Moving to Boston: a student city with serious winters
September 1 leases, the T, neighborhoods near campus and how to budget in one of the costliest US cities.