SUBREDDIT: r/AskReddit
TITLE: Reddit newbie, fresh out of college, wanting to move -- need advice
POST: Yo Reddit. Been a lurker for about a month now -- got obsessed with Reddit because of my younger brother and my roommate. Glad to be aboard with a username!

Anyway, I recently graduated from college with a degree in English (Writing/Rhetoric/Composition concentration) and have been a bit tired of my home state of Colorado for a while now. I plan on going on to grad school and eventually becoming a college-level teacher (professor) after a year or two, but first I really want to move someplace else. I'm okay with working odd jobs to get me by until I attend school again -- so no huge need to nab a job with a degree, though I don't mind that either.

I'm also still young and pretty ignorant about the moving process... I've attended college for 5 years in-state, just 3 hours away from my hometown and have very minimal travel experience. I could probably afford to visit a couple of places and scope them out before I move.

All advice on the following points would be greatly appreciated:

* How do I tell what the cost of living in an area is? How do I calculate if I can afford the move? Is there some way I can get a sense for how strong the job market is in a place before I move there? (I know the job market's supposed to be pretty awful everywhere due to the economic state)

* How do I search for a job or a career in a place that I don't live?

* What sort of advice would you give for scoping out places to live at my destination?

* Any other first-time out-of-state moving advice is very welcome.

I've got my heart set on the following places:

* Washington state (within/near Seattle or any other major city preferably, though I still want 2-4 hr access to the great outdoors)

* Illinois (same as Washington, though I know it's distinctly lacking mountains)

* Canada, though that's pretty extreme and less likely. I also don't know how I would become a permanent resident/citizen of Canada, so any advice on that -- including "Don't do it" -- is very welcome)
TL;DR: 
Just graduated from college and want to move. I want to move in or near a major city in Washington state, Illinois, or Canada. Please give me advice!