What to Expect When Renting an Apartment in Chicago

The average rent for a Chicago apartment has increased from 2021 to 2022. But average rents vary from one Chicago neighborhood to the next. On Domu, the cheapest neighborhood for a one-bedroom apartment in 2020 was Belmont Cragin on the northwest side. River North was the most expensive neighborhood to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago. Most apartments for rent in Chicago will fall between $1,000 and $2,000. Not sure how much you can afford to pay in rent? Try this handy rent calculator.

New apartments have popped up in droves around the core downtown neighborhoods in the post-recession recovery period. These are places like Streeterville, River North, the Chicago Loop, South Loop, and River West and West Loop neighborhoods. Many new Chicago apartments feature numerous enticing amenities for renters who expect a high standard of service and fine finishes in these apartments -- but expect a higher rent to accompany all those attractive features. Popular amenities for new apartment buildings include fitness centers with private workout studios, swimming pools, pet grooming stations, secure package delivery, on-site dry cleaning, valet service, electric vehicle charging stations, doorman or concierge service, and 24/7 maintenance and security, and other perks for renters.

Many vintage pre-WWII buildings in Chicago have returned to their original purpose as rental apartment buildings during the last decade. A spate of condo conversions swept through Chicago during the 1970s and 1980s, and the apartments in these older buildings were renovated as owner-occupied residences. With the housing crash in 2008, the demand for condos in Chicago declined, and renters became the driving force in Chicago’s housing market. Thus, neighborhoods with many vintage apartment buildings have returned to vogue among renters. These are neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Chicago Gold Coast, the Chicago Loop, and River North.
 

Apartment Guide to Renting in Chicago

Renting an apartment in Chicago is an experience shared among many renters in the United States third-largest city. There are close to 800,000 rental homes in the Cook County area, including downtown Chicago and its surrounding neighborhoods and inner ring of suburbs

According to US Census Bureau data, close to 200,000 people call the downtown Chicago area home. Nearly half of all households in the Chicago market are rentals, and that number has been steadily climbing in the days since the Great Recession and subsequent recovery period. This is when Chicagoans are more inclined to rent their homes instead of owning them. The available inventory of apartments and houses in Chicago has helped absorb the growing preference for renting.

Demand for multifamily housing was strong in the post-recession years. Will it remain strong in Chicago? From 2010 until the end of 2019, Chicago added an average of 5,200 new apartments to the market each year. With more tech jobs arriving on the scene and companies looking to recruit talent for downtown Chicago HQs, it's a safe bet that the rental market will continue to expand in the early 2020s. 

If a Landlord Asks for a Deposit to Reserve the Apartment, What Should I Do? 

Renters should typically never pay any deposit on an apartment in Chicago without 1) seeing it in person and 2) signing a lease agreement. A security deposit serves as an incentive for renters to maintain the rental property responsibly. A security deposit due upon lease signing is a common requirement for Chicago apartments. The deposit is something landlords may require, or they may opt for the non-refundable move-in fee, but neither should be paid unless the renter is signing a lease agreement and getting the keys to the unit as part of the exchange. Additionally, a landlord must provide a receipt for any security deposit along with a disclosure of the city's interest rates for security deposits. You can check with the City of Chicago for further information on the applicable interest rate on the city's official website.   

  

Should Renters Insist on Reviewing and Signing a Lease Before Sending Funds to Landlords?  

Yes. The apartment lease may end up being the renter's best friend because it spells out the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant. In addition to the lease, Chicago has an entire section of the municipal code dedicated to the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants, known as the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (often referred to as CRLTO). Some buildings or rental properties in Chicago will be exempt from the terms of the CRLTO, but this ordinance covers other apartments for rent in Chicago. Tenants might want to familiarize themselves with their rights under the ordinance before they begin their apartment search and before signing a lease. You can find a summary of the CRLTO here.   

  

What Types of Information Does a Landlord Collect When I Want to Rent an Apartment in Chicago? 

Landlords may ask tenants interested in renting the apartment to fill out an application form that acts as a pre-qualification screen for tenants renting the apartment. Information collected may include the renter's job title and salary, references from prior landlords, and a photograph of a driver's license or other official ID. A landlord may use a third-party service to conduct a credit check at this pre-screening stage. Typically, the landlord initiates this credit screening, and then the tenant receives a message via email to complete the credit screening on their own. 

Landlords might also conduct a third-party criminal background check. Due to a change in the law effective January 1, 2020, under the Just Housing Amendment, all landlords in Cook County must give an initial approval (or denial) based on the pre-qualification screen, including the credit check, before looking at an applicant's criminal history. Your initial application should not ask you to disclose any criminal history. Suppose a landlord shows an applicant has a criminal conviction and refuses to rent on that basis. In that case, the landlord must provide a copy of the background check, and the applicant can dispute its accuracy. Check the City of Chicago's site for more information on the Just Housing Amendment (sometimes referred to as the JHA). Renters may want to run a background check or credit check before their apartment search to double-check that information is accurate. 
  
Payment for these credit screenings and background checks sometimes comes at the renter's expense. It's not unusual for landlords to cover this expense as part of the so-called "application fee," but if that cost is omitted from the apartment listing, don't be surprised if the cost of providing the credit screening falls to the tenant. Application fees rarely are typically no more than $50 per renter for most Chicago apartments. 

  

Can I Sign a Lease Without Seeing an Apartment in Person? 

Carefully review the apartment lease before moving forward with any agreement. Proceed with caution if you cannot see the apartment in person. If scheduling an in-person showing is out of the question, try to arrange a virtual showing or designate someone you trust as a proxy to tour the apartment. If you're using a broker to tour the apartment in your place, send them a list of questions you might ask if you saw the apartment for yourself. These questions might include, "How close is the nearest train station or bus stop?" or "Are there any grocery stores in the neighborhood?" Renters might want to get a full download from this intermediary person before deciding to move forward with the apartment application. 

Disclaimer: The general information that Domu provides about Chicago landlord tenant law is not a comprehensive summary and not intended as legal advice. Domu endeavors to provide accurate information, but the law is subject to change, and Domu is not a law firm or provider of legal services. Questions about your particular leasing situation should be directed to a lawyer.  All content provided here is subject to Domu’s Terms of Use, which are available here.   

Chicago's Most Expensive & Most Affordable Neighborhoods

There’s a wide range of apartment rental prices in Chicago. The high end of the rental spectrum was $2,200 per month for one-bedroom apartments in Chicago. The low end of the range was about $900 per month for one-bedroom apartments. 

The Chicago neighborhoods ranked as the most expensive for one-bedroom rentals were Lakeshore East, River North, and the West Loop. The neighborhoods where renters found the most affordable one-bedroom rentals were South Shore, West Ridge, and Rogers Park.

What makes these neighborhoods such enclaves for expensive and cheap apartments, respectively? The priciest parts of Chicago have a large concentration of new construction apartments and condo buildings. These highly amenitized properties cater to every need that renters may have, from on-site dry cleaners to 24-hour door staff and secure package delivery. They also extend the comfort quotient to include luxe social lounges and amazing rooftops with world-class views. Comprehensive fitness centers often come with elevated monthly rent, and these new buildings also make life simpler for renters by bundling all the utility costs into the monthly apartment rent.

As for cheap apartments, many reasons contribute to lower rents in a particular neighborhood. The common thread for the most affordable neighborhoods on Domu is their distance to and from downtown. Renters face 10 miles or greater commutes for the three most affordable neighborhoods on Domu. Savings can be found farther out from downtown, but longer commutes have a lower price tag. Chicago has many pockets of industry, but the city’s most robust employment sectors usually favor centrally located offices in the Loop. Most jobs in Chicago are situated centrally, leading to a premium on apartments closer to work for most Chicagoans.
 

Renters Rights

Most Chicago apartments are governed by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (CRLTO). Domu would encourage all renters to get familiar with this ordinance and know their rights and responsibilities under the law.

This city ordinance outlines all the legal obligations belonging to landlords and renters in Chicago. It covers various topics such as smoke detectors, lease renewal notices, apartment or rental home damage, lockouts, and more.  

Getting Around Chicago

Chicago has an extensive transportation network comprised of the city’s rail service, buses, commuter trains, and expressways. Most commuters in Chicago choose to drive even though there’s a comprehensive public transportation network. However, local officials are making it more costly for drivers to park in the city. From city permit stickers to a recent tax on rideshare services near downtown, the fees related to driving in Chicago are steadily climbing. If one were to casually survey a group of Chicagoans about the cost of street parking or garage parking, their answers would paint a picture of rising costs associated with personal vehicles in the city.

Many apartment renters rely on the city’s rail and bus network operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to get around. The CTA, also known as the ‘L’ among locals, has seven rail lines that extend from northern suburbs to southside neighborhoods closer to the Indiana border. The ‘L’ also runs service from Chicago’s two main airports directly into downtown Chicago, a significant perk for tourists and apartment renters who need affordable transportation to either O’Hare International Airport or Midway Airport.

Another entity operates commuter rail services like the Metra trains, but they have terminals in downtown Chicago. These commuter rail networks stretch farther than the local CTA trains; apartment renters can ride these trains to Wisconsin or Indiana.  

Living near the ‘L’ in Chicago


The ideal scenario for many Chicago renters is living within sight of the ‘L’ but not so close that they must hear the train passing during rush hour. Walking to the CTA station in 10 minutes or less is a highly sought-after location. For that reason, transit-oriented developments have garnered a lot of steam among both community leaders and builders in Chicago.

The elevated winding tracks of Chicago’s train system are distinctive and practical at the same time. The tracks were hoisted up about two stories above grade and primarily run above commercial streets to spare residents the inconvenience of street-level train crossings. The result was neighborhoods that weren’t bisected by train crossings (although there are exceptions where the train crosses at street level). The residential feel of side streets was preserved, and the transportation was simplified from an old patchwork of streetcars, buses, and trains. 

If renters look up in neighborhoods where the ‘EL’ operates, they will see the unmistakably Chicago scene of the train zooming overhead. But the uniquely Chicago sight of aluminum train cars snaking their way past an apartment or office building’s second floor also comes with a cautionary note: renters may not be thrilled to live right next to the tracks. Living near a stop is grand, but having only a brick wall separating the apartment from the train tracks isn’t fun.
 

How to Avoid Traffic in Chicago

Avoiding time spent stuck in the car isn't accessible if you're commuting in Chicago. A recent study released by Texas A&M Transportation Institute found Chicagoans were spending an average of 73 hours per year in traffic jams, placing Chicago third among major US metro areas for the amount of time its residents spend in gridlock. 

Chicago commuters once turned their radio dials into one of the frequent drive-time updates from local radio stations. These reports always contain a thicket of the local lingo, especially regarding the localized nicknames for expressways and major roads, and deciphering the broadcaster's rapid-fire assessment of the streets took a sharp ear good understanding of the city's geography. Now, these reports are circumvented as many commuters turn to a smartphone app to help them navigate the roads and discover the quickest route from A to B.

The bottom line for apartment renters who want to try their best to spend less time in traffic is to live somewhere that allows you to either a) walk to work or b) ditch the car entirely and rely on the city's public transportation network to get to work. Those aren't always feasible options, though. The following measure considers the city or suburbs where most car trips begin and end.

Chicago has a major thoroughfare that drives like a highway but looks like it's in the middle of a scenic park. That's the famous Lake Shore Drive, where commuters can at least stare out their car windows at the tranquil and peaceful scenery of Lake Michigan while they wait for traffic to inch along. This is a significant highway -- eight lanes wide at some points -- with a maximum speed limit of 40 mph...but many motorists on Lake Shore Drive tend to view that as more of a suggestion than the rule. As a word of caution to speed demons flying up and down Lake Shore: the cops like to park on the grassy median between the north- and southbound lanes, so drivers who treat this road like it's NASCAR will likely end up paying for their speedy tendencies.

Apartments that boast about Lake Michigan views in the listing are usually located near Lake Shore Drive, and this highway has a decent number of high-rise apartment buildings built right up against it. The side closer to Lake Michigan is pure public park space, populated with beaches, dog parks, golf courses, and more natural recreational areas for Chicago renters to explore.

For apartment renters who frequently drive towards O'Hare Airport or beyond, living off the Kennedy (I-90) Expressway is the way to go. Apartments in Jefferson Park, Irving Park, Old Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Portage Park are usually a short distance from the Kennedy Expressway. 

Renters who need to make the back-and-forth commute to downtown Chicago, or the Loop as it's usually known, will want to pay close attention to apartments in neighborhoods along with the Dan Ryan (I-94) Expressway. The Kennedy Expresswayeventually merges with this primary north/south highway in the city. Neighborhoods like Pullman, Chatham, Washington Park, and Bronzeville hug the southern expanse of the Dan Ryan Expressway. On the far northwest side of the city, renters in Albany Park, Sauganash, Edgebrook, and the Village of Skokie will have easy access to the northern stretch of I-94, which turns into the Edens Expressway as commuters move farther north into the suburbs.

Guide to Biking for Apartment Renters in Chicago

Chicago is recognized as one of the more bike-friendly cities in the nation. With more than 100 miles of protected bike lanes in place and more expected to come, Chicago’s cycling community has made significant in-roads to transforming the metropolis into a pedaler’s paradise. Apartment renters keen to explore Chicago by bicycle will want to know which buildings have bike-centric amenities, such as bike storage rooms, bike repair on-site, or convenient bike-sharing stops right outside the apartment building’s entrance.

The bicycle storage room has evolved from an afterthought to a serious amenity for Chicago apartment buildings that position renters in an ideal place to pedal to work or explore the city via two wheels. Transit-oriented developments (or TODs as they’re sometimes known) receive financial assistance from taxpayers. These buildings qualify for subsidies because they’re positioned to let renters embrace a car-free lifestyle in the city. These developments have fewer parking spots but are within easy walking distance to major public transit hubs. The new apartments springing up in River West are prime examples: renters at one of these apartment buildings may struggle to find a parking spot for their cars, but they’ll never need one (in theory) because they can walk a couple of minutes to the CTA Blue line station at Chicago and Milwaukee Ave.

A Big Landing Pad for Big Ten Schools

Chicago is the Midwest's largest metropolis. Many alums from colleges and universities in the region wind up in Chicago after graduating, bringing their sports allegiances with them. A cursory glance around popular apartment rental neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park or Lakeview will uncover many Big Ten bars proudly flying the flag for their respective schools, offering Chicago renters a place to gather to support their alma maters. These college-affiliated bars and restaurants give recent graduates a semblance of the college campus vibe while still feeling thoroughly Chicago, thanks to their function as community taverns and neighborhood watering holes.

How much does Big Ten graduates' migration impact the Chicago apartment landscape? Consider that 10% or more of the graduates from six Big Ten schools (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin) settle in Chicago after leaving the university. In other words, Chicago may be outranked by larger American cities for the sheer number of Big Ten grads who call the metro area home, but it's undoubtedly the highest concentration of Big Ten grads out of any major U.S. metro. Alums from these Big Ten schools will find themselves in good company if they go for a walk in one of the densely populated neighborhoods with apartments. Some renters go so far as flying the university flag from their apartment's balcony or front porch. 

Chicago is making a solid bid to lure grads with in-demand job skills for the city's growing tech sector. For that matter, Chicago welcomes graduates from all the universities in the conference and schools across the country. So there's a solid chance that no matter where you went to school, you can find a kindred spirit or fellow alum somewhere in the city.

Chicago Apartments and Chicago Sports

The city is home to eight major professional sports teams that play in big-time arenas that can host thousands of fans, so the neighborhoods around these sporting hubs can teem with activity on game days. Some stadiums and arenas are their neighborhoods' defining features, with the most straightforward example being Wrigley Field on the north side. The ballpark area is known as Wrigleyville, a micro-neighborhood of the greater Lakeview community.

The lakefront area near the South Loop and the Museum Campus is a significant hub on Chicago Bears game days, and starting in the 2020 season, the historic landmark Soldier Field will host the MLS Chicago Fire squad. The quiet Bridgeport neighborhood surrounds the home field of the Chicago White Sox, where tailgaters arrive early to grill or hang out in the parking lot before and after games at Guaranteed Rate Field. The United Center hosts the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls. The highly desired West Loop neighborhood has expanded westward to brush up against the Near West Side around the United Center. 

The South Loop is also home to Wintrust Arena, one of the city's newer sports venues where the WNBA Chicago Sky and the DePaul University men's and women's basketball teams play their home games. Of course, any stadium in Chicago can double as a concert venue or a convention space, so life near one of these sporting hubs can even deliver meaningful diversions for renters who are agnostic to Chicago sports. When significant musical acts come to Chicago, they frequently pack the crowds into the 23,500-seat United Center or 61,500 seats of Soldier Field.