10 Pieces of Advice for Settling in a New City in 2023

Whether you’re moving across the country or across the state, leaving your familiar abode can be overwhelming in so many ways. Perhaps an exciting job opportunity pops up or an unexpected family obligation takes you somewhere far away. Rest assured – as long as you have the right tools and the right attitude, you’ll eventually settle into your new home just fine.

As someone who has had to move around quite a bit in the last 7 years (5 times but who’s counting?), I’m all too familiar with the frustrating process of “settling in.” I’ve been that girl driving the wrong way down Washington, DC’s confusing grid streets, and I’ve also been that graduate student kicked off of a broken down Boston MBTA subway line (and left stranded in the snow). So I’ve been there. The good news though: it’s an adventure. You live and you learn and you eventually download Google Maps.

So in the spirit of learning from my mistakes, here are 10 tried-and-true pieces of advice for moving to a new city in 2023.

Start your move off on the right foot

First and foremost, do everything you can to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible. The faster you have your belongings unpacked and organized in your new digs, the sooner you can start settling in and feeling “at home.” Relocating to a new city is stressful enough without the hassle of losing your things. Unpacking your house once you arrive – or at least, essential items like kitchenwares – will give you that much-needed sense of normalcy when moving far away. Unless you’re planning to rent a truck and move yourself, I recommend selecting a qualified and reputable long-distance moving company. Take a look at Moving.com’s large network of licensed and insured professional movers to get the planning process started today.

Download local mobile apps

Do a little research ahead of time to figure out what mobile apps are popular and useful in your new city. From on-demand grocery delivery services and restaurant ordering apps to bike sharing programs and public transit info apps, chances are good that for every service in your city, there’s a mobile app for that.

Say “yes” to as many opportunities as possible

The best piece of advice someone ever gave me about moving was to cast as wide of a net as possible, and see who and what sticks. Being open to new people and new experiences will not only help with getting to know your new city better, but it will also help with growing your new network of friends. Whether it’s a Monday trivia night with neighbors or an after-work happy hour with coworkers, say “yes” to as much as possible when you first move to a city.

Locate important stores in your neighborhood

First things first: upon arriving in your new city, I recommend exploring the neighborhood to find local stores that meet your immediate needs. This means finding your go-to pharmacy, drug store, grocery store, gas station, and coffee shop. Once you figure out where everything is located, your new community will start to feel more like home.

Give yourself time to acclimate

Everyone’s adjustment period runs on a different timeline. While one person may be able to settle happily into a new city after just a month, another may take a longer time adjusting to a new area. Based on personal experience, I’d estimate that it takes roughly three months to feel totally comfortable in your new neighborhood. By this time, you know where to find the coffee shop and best take-out options in your community; you’ve discovered the best running routes along your streets; you’ve figured out the basics of your public transportation system (hopefully) – and you’ve mastered the fastest way to get to work. After six months, you should have much of your new city figured out – which neighborhoods to explore and which neighborhoods to avoid. You’ve also made a few casual friends or close acquaintances – whether coworkers, classmates or neighbors.

However, it takes roughly one full year of experiencing all four seasons in a new city to truly feel like home. By this time, you’ve seen your city through fall, winter, spring and summer – and you know what to expect. Your friend group is probably fairly solid and/or finally falling into place, and you are comfortable in your new job.

Get to know your transportation options

Navigating an unfamiliar city – whether big or small – will always be a tricky at first. Sometimes it takes a little bit of trial and error to figure out the fastest routes and various subway lines. Before moving, I highly recommend looking into your city’s transportation options, such as subway systems, bus transit lines, bikesharing programs and ridesharing services. Figuring out how to use public transportation will allow you to explore your new city with confidence. It also can’t hurt to study a map of the city and its different neighborhoods as well.

It’s okay to get a little lost (just make sure your phone is charged)

Nothing gives me greater anxiety than driving in an unfamiliar city on new roads. However, between Google Maps and asking for directions, it’s practically impossible these days to become lost for too long. If you take a wrong turn or two – don’t panic! It’s okay to get a little lost in your new town. In fact, I recommend it (just stay safe). Pack a map, ask for directions and explore the different neighborhoods in your new town.

Join neighborhood listservs

A great way to familiarize yourself with your new town is by joining community listservs. For example – when I moved to Florida, I joined both my Nextdoor.com neighborhood group and my local community Facebook group. Both groups provided me with a wealth of information about the area. From suggestions on the best painting professionals and electricians to informative news links and updates on local development projects – these online community groups were an easy way to learn more about my new neighborhood.

All it takes is one friend

Really and truly, it only takes one newfound brunch partner to get you through that first milestone year. When you move somewhere, concentrate on finding him or her, and don’t let any opportunities go to waste. Strike up conversations with folks you meet at work, in fitness classes or while shopping and dining. Also, try Meetup.com to find people with like-minded interests. Friend dates may be awkward at first but you’ll be glad you did it. Once you have one solid person to do something with, life becomes easier.

Go with the flow and focus on the positive

Undoubtedly, things won’t always go as planned. Perhaps your housing situation falls through or your job is more demanding than expected. Whatever happens, try your best to focus on what you do like about your new home (i.e. a short commute to work or pleasant weather). Find activities, hobbies and clubs in your city that make you happy, such as joining a gym, running group or social club. Get involved in your community, and stay positive!