chicago burbs cheaper than new york (long island)? (Schaumburg, Manhattan: real estate, apartments)

[mike3512]

i plan on moving to chicago within the next few years, and one thing that i need to know is how much cheaper is it than long island, NY? the prices here are just ridiculous. I've seen real estate in the burbs in chicago and it's much cheaper than here. but all around, is it cheaper? significantly?

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by mike3512

i plan on moving to chicago within the next few years, and one thing that i need to know is how much cheaper is it than long island, NY? the prices here are just ridiculous. I've seen real estate in the burbs in chicago and it's much cheaper than here. but all around, is it cheaper? significantly?

YES YES AND... (du du du) YES! Prices run about 75% the cost of LI here. Even in your most prestigous of burbs in Chicago it will still run you about 75% whatever the cost is on LI, with the exception of gas and cigarettes. Smokes are about $6-8 a pack in Cook Cty now, and gas in the city is running about $3.60 a gallon to $3.25 a gal in the burbs. Taxes in Cook Cty are lower than in Suffolk or Nassau, and tolls here are lower. (no bridges to contend with) Rent in the city right downtown will run about $2000 a mo for a very nice 2 bed apt again right in the center of everything, to about $750-$1000 for a 1 bed a little further out.

Hope that is what you wanted to hear.

[samma]

I was just looking in Schaumburg and for nice (not amamzing but nice/safe) 2bed and 1.5-2 bath apartments they were $1200-$1400 a month and they all had pools, gyms and all that.

[mike3512]

Originally Posted by samma

I was just looking in Schaumburg and for nice (not amamzing but nice/safe) 2bed and 1.5-2 bath apartments they were $1200-$1400 a month and they all had pools, gyms and all that.

godd my mom rented a crappy 3-bedroom, 1 bath in a falling-apart house in copiague, long island, NY for like 1,800. i think you get a lot more living out there in Illinois. But are the salaries the same as NY? or are they way lower?

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by mike3512

godd my mom rented a crappy 3-bedroom, 1 bath in a falling-apart house in copiague, long island, NY for like 1,800. i think you get a lot more living out there in Illinois. But are the salaries the same as NY? or are they way lower?

Salaries will be a bit lower (maybe 90% of what a job would pay in Manhattan), so don't be expecting Manhattan salaries on Chicago prices. Everything is relative remember that, but you can probably lead a more "comfortable" life here (Chicago) with the exception of the weather... UGGGHHHH ENOUGH WITH THE SNOW ALREADY.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by mike3512

godd my mom rented a crappy 3-bedroom, 1 bath in a falling-apart house in copiague, long island, NY for like 1,800. i think you get a lot more living out there in Illinois. But are the salaries the same as NY? or are they way lower?

NY area salaries are a little bit higher on average, but not so much where it compensates for the difference in the cost of living in the vast majority of circumstances. (Of course, this depends on your profession, as well.)

[mike3512]

life in long island, financially, is not very comfortable. i'm glad that it's more comfortable there, and probably just as nice. thanks again.

[studedude]

Originally Posted by mike3512

i plan on moving to chicago within the next few years, and one thing that i need to know is how much cheaper is it than long island, NY? the prices here are just ridiculous. I've seen real estate in the burbs in chicago and it's much cheaper than here. but all around, is it cheaper? significantly?

Bankrate.com has a cost of living calculator that may help.