Can I Afford $1,000/mo Rent in Chicago?

Logan Square

Cocktail bars, vintage shops, Mexican food, artsy energy. The Blue Line makes it highly connected. 1BRs $1,600–1,950/mo — cheaper than Wicker Park with a similar creative character. The pick for people priced out of Wicker Park who don't want to compromise on neighborhood energy.

Hyde Park

University of Chicago campus neighborhood on the South Side. Culturally rich, architecturally interesting, more racially and economically diverse than the North Side. 1BRs $1,300–1,700/mo — noticeably cheaper than comparable North Side neighborhoods. Best for academics, UChicago affiliates, or people who want the city's cultural depth at lower cost.

Pilsen

Mexican-American cultural center — murals covering entire building facades, excellent taquerias, NACIONAL museum of Mexican art. Artists have been moving in for a decade, but it's still affordable at $1,300–1,650/mo for a 1BR. The most visually distinctive neighborhood in the city.