Cost of Living (Chicago: apartment, for rent, home)

[Eradik]

Since every single site seems to list different numbers for Cost of Living... does anyone survive on as little as 25k a year? (with about 20k in the bank after moving)

I was thinking Andersonville, and I dont care about a shoebox apartment.

What do you think? Thanks

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

I know people who do. I know lots of artists and actors. If that's 25k after taxes, that's 2 grand a month. If you have roommates, especially, you're fine on that. in Andersonville, you're talking about, say, 500 or 600 a month in rent. If you're lucky, heat's included. Say, 60 for a cell phone. If you get cable and hi-speed, even, that's still 60 a piece with a roomie. A monthly CTA pass is 75 bucks. Eat at home most of the time. Skip a car. Get a bike for the warm times and ride the train.

You're fine.

[Drover]

$500 in Andersonville? Good luck with that! I paid twice that for a conversion nearly 10 years ago before it got "really" hot. If I were trying to cut it on 25K a year in this city, Andersonville would be one of the last places I'd look unless I were willing to take on a roommate.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Note: I did say "With a roommate". That'd be the biggest key to making the 25k work, in my opinion.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

Note: I did say "With a roommate". That'd be the biggest key to making the 25k work, in my opinion.

Ah. Wasn't clear that the rent was "per person with roommate."

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Sorry about that. That's definitely per person with roommate.

[Preditor74]

Is it really that hard to live in Chicago?

I am moving next month and will be working as a server while I goto school for a year. I am hoping to bring in around $1,700-$1,800 a month (that is after taxes of course) and figured that would be enough to budget a $700-$750 studio in Lakeview...perhaps I am wrong.

I won't have a car and will have some money in savings...but this thread all of a sudden scared me a little.

Am I crazy for wanting to move into Lakeview on that income level?

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

On Craigslist I just did a search for Studios in Lakeview, and here's what I found. It looks like you can do it. chicago craigslist > apts/housing for rent: search for "studio lakeview"

Just be prepared to not eat out and go drinking every night. That adds up big time.

Also, having roommates saves you a lot of scratch.

[Preditor74]

Yes I have been on CL for the past three weeks looking at studios.

I don't want to do the roommate thing right away only because I don't really want to move in with someone I have never met. Perhaps after I meet a few people here and there.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Then you know the costs. Don't worry about it. You're doing your homework.

I understand the roommate trepidation. I was just saying that, financially, it's a good call.