New York City edges it in February. New York City averages -1–6°C with low crowds; Chicago -7–1°C with very low crowds.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
New York City and Chicago
The verdict for February
Still cold, but quiet and often good value
+Crowds stay lower than spring, summer and the holiday season.
–Still cold, and not a month for warm-weather plans.
A smart month for value and quieter sightseeing, but not for warm weather.
Cold, quiet and cheap
+Still dead quiet and cheap, with cozy jazz clubs and deep-dish weather.
–Same bitter cold as January, just with slightly longer days.
Still dead quiet and cheap, with cozy jazz clubs and deep-dish weather.
Scores and crowd levels are my own judgement; temperatures are monthly averages. Higher scores are better: quieter, cheaper and more pleasant.
Another month