Chicago Lifestyle for foreigner? (to buy, live, auctions)

[marothisu]

I'd get my own place honestly. You'll be making enough money for it, but if you want to save some you can get a studio for under $1000/month. Renting a room will not be that much cheaper honestly. For websites, look in the rent section of Zillow: Real Estate, Apartments, Mortgage & Home Values in the US and Domu Chicago | Chicagoland Apartments. Apartments for Rent & Homes for Rent - Rent.com® Apartment Finder can work too, possibly

For example in Lakeview just a few minutes walk to the lake are these studios (remember they are not furnished):
* Chicago Apartments | 3510 N. Pine Grove | Domu Chicago = $885-$950/mo
* 544 West Melrose, Studio - Zillow = $895/mo

[ToriaT]

Those places don't look half bad. I think you can also rent furniture not just a furnished apt. Its probably expensive. You can buy furniture pretty cheaply at IKEA. Its not the most well made but you can get by on it. They also have stuff to outfit kitchens and bathrooms as well. Don't forget you will need a security deposit for your apt. I don't know if you need an ssn.

[maca128]

Hi guys!

Finally I have decided to rent this https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/716401 for the first 4/5 days. And on those days, I will have amie@sspchicago.com showing me some apts in near north side and Lincoln park… Looking for something around $900…
Do you have any last advice? I will be arriving on Saturday 03/15/2014, and staying til 03/15/2015.

Thanks for your help, it was really useful!

[emathias]

Originally Posted by maca128

Hi guys!

Finally I have decided to rent this https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/716401 for the first 4/5 days. And on those days, I will have amie@sspchicago.com showing me some apts in near north side and Lincoln park… Looking for something around $900…
Do you have any last advice? I will be arriving on Saturday 03/15/2014, and staying til 03/15/2015.

Thanks for your help, it was really useful!

That's an, uh, "interesting" part of town to start in. Granted, I spent a semester a few blocks from there when I first moved to Chicago, but I was doing sociology studies then.

It is nice and cheap - I also host on Airbnb, in a better location, but I do charge 50-100% more than they charge, so I guess for the price they're not bad. Just to caution you, though, there isn't a lot within a close walk of there, and if you walk too far west you're in increasingly dicey and even dangerous areas. Be sure to ask the hosts about where you can walk safely and be very skeptical if they say "oh, anywhere around here is safe."

Also, once you get your regular place, you should seriously consider getting a bike - it really opens up the city for you.

[Freefall18]

Originally Posted by emathias

That's an, uh, "interesting" part of town to start in. Granted, I spent a semester a few blocks from there when I first moved to Chicago, but I was doing sociology studies then.

It is nice and cheap - I also host on Airbnb, in a better location, but I do charge 50-100% more than they charge, so I guess for the price they're not bad. Just to caution you, though, there isn't a lot within a close walk of there, and if you walk too far west you're in increasingly dicey and even dangerous areas. Be sure to ask the hosts about where you can walk safely and be very skeptical if they say "oh, anywhere around here is safe."

Also, once you get your regular place, you should seriously consider getting a bike - it really opens up the city for you.

Or a divvy subscription

[maca128]

hey emathias and freefall18 thanks for your last comments!

I just got last Saturday, and I am loving the city! I was exactly as you guys depicted it to me… Long story short… Am renting for $1200 a studio in lake view east, on a 21st floor with an amazing view… I just bought a frame, spring box, and matress… and that’s it!

So, of course I have lots of questions! And I good love to hear your advices…

I wanted to buy a bike (I plan on using it daily to commute, I guess from April to November)…Where should I buy it? It would be just for using it around the city, I want to spend around $140.-

I wanted to buy a chair or a sofa… where should I buy it?

It seems that online stuff is half the price, like when I enter a store and ask… am I wrong?

Regards!!

Ps: would love to play soccer to, can anyone make me enter in a team or something?

[marothisu]

^ It's good you're enjoying it so far!

Originally Posted by maca128

I wanted to buy a bike (I plan on using it daily to commute, I guess from April to November)…Where should I buy it? It would be just for using it around the city, I want to spend around $140.-

Would you consider the bike share program, Divvy? It's $75/year but you don't have to lug around your bike or anything. There's some time stuff on it but yeah..

I wanted to buy a chair or a sofa… where should I buy it?

Depends on how much you want to spend for them...some places are definitely cheaper and some places are definitely more expensive than others. Also depends on the style you want sometimes.

Ps: would love to play soccer to, can anyone make me enter in a team or something?

There are numerous leagues in the city and also probably meet ups. I would check these resources out:

Soccer - Sport Home: Players Sport & Social Group - Chicago, IL

Find your people - Meetup

The Chicago Fire MLS team also sponsors a league I think:
Chicago Fire Rec Soccer | Chicago Fire

[chet everett]

Best deals on bicycles are still police auctions. The suburbs still run their own -- Bikes and more snagged at police auction - Chicago Tribune

Most if these towns will probably still have something -- Someone Else's Loss Could Become Your Gain At Local Police Auctions - Chicago Tribune

[maca128]

Thanks for your tips!

Auctions seem a little too much for me… I barely know the city, and my oral English sucks! Lol, but thanks… I went yesterday to http://johnnysprockets.com/ on brodway steet in Lakeview, and the guy offered me a real good mountain bike for U$S280, he even let me test a few bikes before deciding… I think I will buy my bike there… Besides the guy told me that if I need something with the bike, the place offers free assistance…

I mean if I buy it from Ebay, I feel with a little lack of trust.

Hey, regarding furniture, I wanted to buy the cheapest sofa and charis I can find... but I want them to be ‘new’ though… any tips?

Thanks for your tips, am having a great time here in Chicago!

[marothisu]

Johnny Sprockets isn't a bad place.


As far as new, cheap sofas/chairs go, there's probably a few options. There's a furniture outlet a mile or two west and a little south of you near the interstate called Furniture Outlet. Furniture Outlet | Chicago, IL Living Room

Down the street from you a little bit on Clark is Affordable Portables where you could get a 3 person sofa for $400 USD (Ashley Darcy Mocha Sofa)

Target also has some cheap options (sofas & loveseats, living room furniture, furniture : Target)


These places will probably have a small delivery fee but remember you'll have to schedule a time with them and your apartment if you live in a high rise for the elevator. Sometimes things are negotiable though remember if you're good at that. I was able to get Macy's to waive the delivery fee for me when I bought a sectional from them.