Thinking of moving to Chicago

MrsJandy

Hello! My husband and I are thinking of moving to Chicago in about a year and a half. We want to rent first until we are sure we are happy there. Can anyone tell be what areas of Chicago are nice and safe? im looking not to spend more than 2,000 a month. Thanks!

lmb5109

Make sure you move in the spring

If you look about 20 or so posts down, there's another FL nestie who is moving up here and we had some posts on location. There are nice & safe areas all over Chicago, it'll just depend where you are going to work and if you need parking on the street, if you want to be by a bus or the train, if you want nightlife & shopping or all 3.

$2000 in rent can get you a really nice 2-3 bedroom & a parking spot. 2 bedroom in Old Town (North & Wells) or Lincoln Park (Armitage & Halsted), or a 3 bedroom in Ravenswood (Ashland & Wilson), Lincoln Square (Lincoln & Wilson), or Edgewater/Rogers Park (the lake to Damen & Lawrence to Devon). I like craigslist.org for looking for apartments, it'll give you locations and pictures.

MrsJandy

Thank you! we would be moving in the summer after graduation if all works out as planned

abseptember

You can live a lot of places for that amount... just depends on what you want.  How many bedrooms/baths do you need?  Parking?  Do you like more of a neighborhood feel, kid friendly, pet friendly, hustle/bustle, hi-rise, walk-ups?  Does it need to be near public transportation?  If you can narrow down what you're looking for, I'd be happy to make suggestions!       

MrsJandy

-We need a 2BR/2B

-Parking for 2 cars

-No need for kid friendliness

-Allowance for small animals (2 guinea pigs)

-Public transportation is always a plus but not necessary

-We'd like a neighborhood feel but still be close to the hustle and bustle 

Thanks

rlz81

My husband and I moved here about 6 month ago. Right now we are living in the River West area (very close to downtown) and we live in a high rise and paying $2,000 a month.

StephCHK63

MrsJandy:

-We need a 2BR/2B

-Parking for 2 cars

-No need for kid friendliness

-Allowance for small animals (2 guinea pigs)

-Public transportation is always a plus but not necessary

-We'd like a neighborhood feel but still be close to the hustle and bustle 

Thanks

I think this is going to be your biggest problem.  Parking spaces are expensive and can be hard to find, especially in some of the "nicer" neighborhoods.  2 parking spaces is almost unheard of, in my experience.  A lot of apartments and condos don't come with parking spaces, but you can rent them separately.  Make sure to budget an extra few hundred dollars a month for that.

And, I live in Lincoln Park, and I love it.  Highly recommend it.  Our rent is about $1500 for 2-bedroom 1 bath, including 1 parking space.  (But I think we got a good deal.)  We definitely have a neighborhood feel, and are still close to the hustle & bustle.