Fullmetal

Hi everyone, I'm having trouble making a choice for the chemistry PhD for Fall 2016, I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. I am an international student btw. My two options are: UC Irvine or U Chicago. Funding: pretty much the same in both, around 30 k each. Any opinions about the living cost in each city? I've done my research about it but any opinion would be helpful. Research interest: mainly something related to biochemistry: chemical biology/biomaterials/biophysical sciences. I've emailed professors in both universities to talk about their research but both of them seemed equally interesting to me. Graduate life?: I've read that the community in Irvine is not very sociable, unlike Chicago which seems a more vibrant city, but it is not that important for me I guess. I am looking for a comfortable place to live but I wouldn't want to be isolated all the time either. Weather: Obviously California is a lot warmer than Chicago, but is it really that cold all year long in Chicago? I've never lived in a cold city so I don't know what to expect in that matter. Thanks for the advice.