Cost of Living in Chicago, IL

In Chicago, Illinois going out to eat at a restaurant and buying food is considered to be affordable. Make sure you take this into account as you plan your overall cost of living in Chicago, IL. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

If you love sports, you will love Chicago, IL! Since there are football, baseball, basketball, hockey teams, you can go to a lot of games. Keep in mind that the tickets tend to be expensive, so you need to manage your entertainment budget carefully. Sometimes you can get discount tickets on line. Some people purchase a season ticket with a group of friends and take turns going to the games. Sports tickets can increase your cost of living in Chicago, IL, but if you are a true sports fan it is worth it. In Chicago, IL, the games are usually shown on local TV and you can host a party of friends and watch the game together. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

Make sure your child has a favorite toy, doll, game, clothing, blanket, snacks, etc. to take with them during the transition. Once you arrive, let your child help with arranging and decorating their new room. You may be tempted to unpack everything when you arrive, but make sure you take a break from unpacking to spend time playing and relaxing with your child. Plan on packing a special bag to take with you with those items that you will need first. Towels, soap, a few basic kitchen utensils and food items like crackers, tea, juice, will make your new location functional as soon as you arrive and fell more like home. A small new toy, book, or video that you give to your child when you arrive might help them to feel happy and relaxed in the new location. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

The cost of electricity in Illinois has gone down by 3.011% in the past year. It is possible that electric rates may fluctuate depending on consumption rates, government regulations and even the weather. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

The estimated average annual cost for child care in Chicago, Illinois (based on state average), is $12964. This cost is ranked NO. 8 nationally. Some employers have company provided day care centers that let you bring your child to work with you and receive care on site. Some colleges and universities with Childhood Education programs also may have day care centers available at reduced costs, so you should explore those possibilities to see if you can reduce your child care expense. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

In Chicago,IL, the median rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is $1076, and for a 2 bedroom apartment is $1266. In general, in the past year, rental costs in Chicago have increased slightly by approximately 0.9%. Since rental expense makes up a significant part of the cost of living, you should consider this expense and how it might change when you calculate your cost of living in a new city. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

Because University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, there is a large student population. This is great, even if you are not a student, since there are always lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

Chicago, Illinois is considered to have a very good public transport system. Illinois is ranked NO. 4 in U.S for public transportation availability. Utilizing public transportation could reduce commuting costs in Chicago, Illinois. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

If you are planning to drive to work, you will be spending a lot of time and gas to get there. Chicago, Illinois is one of the Worst cities in the United States for driving. Chicago, Illinois is ranked number 91 out of 100 major cities. Plan on spending more on gas and auto expenses if you move to Chicago, Illinois, resulting in a higher cost of living. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

In Chicago, IL, the average commute time is about 40.99 minutes. This can vary depending on the time of day, day of week, and the weather and road conditions. If the weather is bad, commute time can double! You should factor this commuting time into your overall cost of living, since your time has value. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

Chicago, Illinois is considered to have one of the COLDEST climates in the country. On average there are 122 days each year that are below freezing. Keep in mind that a cold climate could result in increased heating expenses that will impact the cost of living. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )

Public transit in Chicago, IL will cost you around $100.00 per month. ( 2023-07-25 salary.com )