What Every Couple Should Know Before Moving to a New City

By | June 1, 2012

“Sure, moving to a new city is a big commitment,” you tell your significant other, “but we’ll adjust.”

Will you? You certainly can, but that’s no guarantee that the adjustment will be as small as you’d hope. In fact, moving to a new city is such a big commitment that you’ll want to be aware of all the changes you’re in for before you make your decision – changes that range from new weather to having to make new friends nearby.

The good news? A new city means starting from scratch. The bad news? A new city means starting from scratch. To get an idea of what kind of commitment this move can be, keep reading.

The Toll on Your Finances

There are two potential expenses that come as a result from moving to a new city: costs associated with moving and an increase in the cost of living. Of course, you can mitigate the latter by moving somewhere with a lower cost of living – say, from New York to Dubuque, Iowa – but no matter what, you are going to have to deal with the costs of moving your lives to an entirely new location.

Many people feel they can plan for this rise in expenses adequately, but you’d be surprised about how it adds up, from furnishings to toiletries. If you’re moving many of your old possessions, then you’re going to have to pay a lot of moving fees to have them relocated. Realize that both of you will have to deal with a financial sacrifice at first, if not for the long-term future with cost-of-living expenses.

The Loss of Friends and Family

Sure, we live in the age of the airplane and web conference. But there’s no substitute to living near both friends and family, for having your roots deeply implanted in a community. Eventually, you can make new friends and start a family together, but moving to a new city often means separating from your old ones. No matter how connected you try to stay, it’s going to be more difficult to maintain those relationships. If you can accept this sacrifice, then you know you’re ready to move to a new city.

It’s true that your significant other may be the most important friend and family to you. But don’t forget that leaving other friends and family behind can take a toll – be prepared to pay this toll if moving to a new city is truly the best thing for you both.

Potential Changes in Lifestyle

Moving from southern California to Seattle, you’ll have to deal with more rain. Moving from the Midwest to Florida means you’ll have to deal with hurricane season and humidity. Moving from New England to Texas means you’re in for a bit of a culture shock. There are tons of potential changes in lifestyle that might have to occur for you to get acclimated to your new city, and if you’re not prepared for them, you might find yourself missing home more than you thought.