Moving to Chicago-Apartment help (Albany: apartments, neighborhoods, school)

[Brittanyc_0328]

Hello everyone! I need some help...I am currently 19 and in January-March I will be moving up around the Chicago area to finish my schooling. I'm pretty nervous but i'm moving with my boyfriend who is 24 so that makes it a little better.

So anyways...I don't know much about the city. I mean I do-but I don't. I need to know where I can find a studio or 1 bedroom apartment for $600 or less a month. I know that is very low and i'm willing to sacrifice being really close to entertainment as long as I am safe. The $600 can or cannot include utilities. I figure it won't but there are some ads that i've found for this price with certain utilities included. I need to know where I can find an apartment in my price range where I will be safe. That is my biggest concern. For a little bit of background information...I currently live in Missouri in a town of about 600-700 people and have all my life so as you can see Chicago will be a huge change! I'm ready for it and I know it is still too early to actually start applying for apartments and such I'd just like to get a general feel and know where to look and what to know, etc. So if anyone at all could give me some advice I would appreciate it so much!

[MannheimMadman]

I'm in the same boat as you- looking for a cheap studio. So far I've seen one in Portage Park (six corners), a bunch in rogers park/edgewater (but parking would be a PITA), and a few in Albany Park. I'm only looking to be as close as I can be to NEIU, so my options were a bit limited. I may consider moving further away if necessary.

All of these neighborhoods are relatively safe by Chicago standards, as I've come to find.

[Brittanyc_0328]

Okay, I'll make sure to check out those areas.

Thanks!

[WhaThe]

Coming from such a small town I can understand you being nervous. I have known women from town's smaller than yours and it would be nice to have more of them here.

Chicago is pretty big and I think people here could be more helpful if we knew the area you where going to school in. Northside, Westside, Southside, etc.

[lincolnparker]

chicago never strikes me as BIG, probably because it's made of small neighborhoods, and also because I've lived in NYC. Just think Chicago being 3 times bigger LOL