Anyone ever lived in Chicago?

Question

whats the most affordable and best place to live in chicago?

tips/advice about the city is appreciated

Answer 1

In Chicago, affordability is relative. So what seems affordable to one person may not be to another. How much are you looking to spend and what else are you looking for aside from a good value -- access to public transportation, shops and restaurants, close to downtown???   There are tons of choices here in terms of where to live, so it's a good idea to know what you're looking for in a neighborhood.

There's a good website called LiveHere Chicago that you might want to check out. It has info on different neighborhoods and has a quiz you can take to find out where you might like to live.

To get an idea of typical rents, check out the Apartment People.  They're a local rental agency and they have information about typical rent ranges throughout the city.  They also are a good choice if you need a little extra help with your apartment search.

Answer 2

I was born in Chicago & now i live in Minnesota. I wouldnt stay in Chicago if i were you, unless its the North part of Chicago. Downtown is nice, if you can afford it. Illinois is a very big state. You dont have to stay in Chicago. There are plenty of suburbs you can live in where you will still be able commute to Chicago without a problem. How bout you just email me later?  

Answer 3

I moved from NY to Chicago about a year and a half ago, and in comparison to NY, it's extremely affordable for such a great city.

Like others have said, most who live in Chicago looking for affordability without being too far from downtown (where most people work) live in the northern neighborhoods such as Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Roscoe Village, North Center, etc. Further north in Edgewater/Andersonville, you'll still be in the city, but you'll be about an hour away from downtown (maybe less) but you'll get a LOT more bang for your buck as far as rent goes.

I live in North Center, and I pay $1500 for a 2-bed, 1-bath, separate living/dining rooms, no utilities, if that helps at all. My commute to downtown is 40 minutes each way on the El, an hour by bus with traffic.

If you can afford a little more in rent, Wicker Park is an up and coming neighborhood that's being gentrified more and is pretty close to downtown. I used to live there, but we moved further north because our tiny shoe-box apartment was $1200/month, no utilities. Lincoln Park is a GREAT neighborhood, but is very expensive. My cousin has a 1-bed, very small, and in a vintage mid-rise and she pays $1100/month, no utilities. But LP is gorgeous, lots of beautiful walk-ups and very clean. I'd live there if I could afford it.

Chicago is a great city, though. Not sure why you're thinking of moving here,but I did it with no job, no apartment. My boyfriend and I just needed to move to a city we could afford and went for it, and have been so happy we did.

Answer 4

no

Answer 5

Yes, I've lived here in Chicago for the past 30 years. I live in the southwest suburbs, which is great for raising a family, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Frankfort. But, if you want to live closer to the city, great places that are safe but can be costly are Lincoln Park, and the North Side of the city, although if you look you may be able to locate a place in Logan Square, but check out the neighborhood both in the AM and the PM to see what goes on there and to ensure your safety. I would stay away from the south side..unless your just "gangsta" like that(lol), the west side has a bad rep, but a decent suburb of the west side of Chicago is Oak Park. Email me if you need any assistance, and also great luck with your move if that's what you decide:)!!

Answer 6

It depends on how much you make. YOu have to be specific. Can you afford $1500 to $2000 a month? Then you can pretty much live anywhere. Can you only afford $650 a month? Then your choices are severly limited. How about giving us a price range? You might get better answers to your query.

Answer 7

my family used to live in this place called mount greenwood. its a suburb of chicago. its pretty nice. the houses arnt SUPER expensive, but their average. the schools arnt bad, and their arnt any gangs. now i live in nevada, but its nice here too :)

Answer 8

Most people who move to Chicago move to the north side. If you're looking for affordable and more bang for the buck, then I'd seriously consider the southwest side if the city. People cringe when they hear "south" but pay attention - southWEST side - Garfield Ridge is a great neighborhood, close to the Orange Line, Midway Airport and only a 13 minute ride into the city if there's no traffic. Plus, you can ALWAYS find parking on the street which is a near impossibility on the north side.

But it's very quiet and not at all exciting.

If you're in your 20's or early 30's, you'll want to be in hipper areas like Wicker Park or Wrigleyville - most of them on the north side. Check out the website below

Answer 9

I would suggest anywhere outside of CROOK.... I mean Cook county...taxes are way too high and its not worth it