{"id":8147,"date":"2023-06-14T12:28:34","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T06:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.devbeta.in\/sushant\/?p=8147"},"modified":"2026-01-15T14:40:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T09:10:08","slug":"cost-of-living-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of Living in Chicago for Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Is_Chicago_expensive\" >Is Chicago expensive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Costs_of_Tuition_Fees\" >Costs of Tuition Fees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Student_Accommodation_Costs\" >Student Accommodation Costs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#1_Student_Housing\" >1. Student Housing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#2_Private_Apartment\" >2. Private Apartment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#3_University_Halls\" >3. University Halls<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Food\" >Food<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Utility_Bills\" >Utility Bills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Transportation\" >Transportation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-finances\/cost-of-living-in-chicago\/#Best_ways_to_reduce_your_living_costs_in_Chicago\" >Best ways to reduce your living costs in Chicago<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Chicago is the most populated city in Illinois, and the third-most populous in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of living in Chicago will be based on your food, rent, transport, utilities, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Chicago_expensive\"><\/span><strong>Is Chicago expensive?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chicago is 17.8% less expensive than <strong>New York<\/strong> (without rent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good part is that <strong>student accommodation in Chicago<\/strong> is available and plenty to find. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/accommodation\/top-4-student-accommodations-in-chicago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>top 4 student accommodations in Chicago<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can reduce your living expenses by staying close to the university and even sharing an accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please bear in mind that the cost of living will depend upon your lifestyle, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Before we list the details of the cost of living in Newcastle, let&#8217;s summarize its cost.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Expenses<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Cost (Average)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Tuition Fees<\/td><td>$20,000 &#8211; $70,000 \/ Year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accommodation<\/td><td>$800 &#8211; $2,000 \/ Month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transportation<\/td><td>$108 \/ Month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Costs_of_Tuition_Fees\"><\/span><strong>Costs of Tuition Fees<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tuition fees are one of the factors that determine the cost of your expenses. Before you start applying to a university, do proper research on the expenses. The cost of tuition fees in Chicago will depend upon the course and university.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Undergraduate Tuition Fee<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Post-Graduate Tuition Fee<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>$20,000 &#8211; $60,000 \/ Year<\/td><td>$20,000 &#8211; $70,000 \/ Year<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Student_Accommodation_Costs\"><\/span><strong>Student Accommodation Costs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of student housing in Chicago comes at many prices. You can find many student rooms ranging from luxurious to budget-friendly ones. There is also cheap student accommodation during exchange programmes and summer school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three types of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/united-states\/city\/chicago\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/united-states\/city\/chicago\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">student accommodation in Chicago<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Student_Housing\"><\/span><strong>1. Student Housing<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Student housing<\/strong><\/a> is one of the most popular types of accommodation in Chicago. This housing provides students with a spacious space to live in a single or share a room. The buildings are built close to the university and offer good amenities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the accommodations are at a distance of under 3 miles. While the ones outside of the city center are upto 20 miles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Student Housing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Price<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ensuite\/ Studio<\/td><td>$854 &#8211; $1,390 \/ Month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Private_Apartment\"><\/span><strong>2. Private Apartment<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Students can get apartments on rent in Chicago &#8211; luxurious to cheap ones. Chicago is an expensive city, try to get a rented space with a friend or a classmate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Apartment<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Price<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Private<\/td><td>$1,440 &#8211; $2,024 \/ Month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_University_Halls\"><\/span><strong>3. University Halls<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Student halls are rooms provided by the university on rent. If you do not try to get it, it is hard to find a room. Now, students are less worried about so many student rooms available in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>University Hall<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Price<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ensuite\/ Studio<\/td><td>$800 &#8211; $2,400 \/ Month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Food\"><\/span><strong>Food<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on your lifestyle, an average meal in Chicago should cost around $20 per person and a glass of beer for $7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Utility_Bills\"><\/span><strong>Utility Bills<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of utility bills in Chicago is expensive, but when you choose to stay in student housing, your bills are covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transportation\"><\/span><strong>Transportation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The transportation system in Chicago is accessible by bus, train, taxi, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buses travel throughout the city daily. You can get discounted prices by using Ventra Card or Unlimited Ride Pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Metra Commuter is one of the fastest rail trains connecting the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taxis are available everywhere in parts and corners of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also water taxis which are affordable and fast if you are in for sightseeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_ways_to_reduce_your_living_costs_in_Chicago\"><\/span><strong>Best ways to reduce your living costs in Chicago<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Keep track of spending<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you know where are spending, you will be able to keep track of it and use it wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bargains, and discounts save money<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bargain is a fun activity and it can save you money. If you have student discounts, use them in the shops, travel etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cook home meals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make use of your cooking skills or learn to cook if you don&#8217;t have it, it will reduce cost on your food expenses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Save energy save money<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saving energy means saving money on paying for electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Walk Or Cycle&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you need to travel, walk or cycle if you can to help save money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Find affordable and shared student accommodation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s not hard to find affordable accommodation in Chicago and share the rent with your friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicago is the most populated city in Illinois, and the third-most populous in the US. The cost of living in Chicago will be based on your food, rent, transport, utilities, etc. Is Chicago expensive? Chicago is 17.8% less expensive than New York (without rent). The good part is that student accommodation in Chicago is available [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8148,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[975],"tags":[1026,994],"class_list":{"0":"post-8147","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-student-finances","8":"tag-chicago","9":"tag-united-states"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8147"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8147\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}