The Most Affordable Places to Live in Chicago | Brixbid

There’s no city like Chicago! Ask anyone who lives here, and they’ll tell you they love it. We do! (But we may be a little biased.) It’s home to nearly 2.7 million residents and offers 77 neighborhoods as unique as its citizens. Sometimes you can even notice when you’ve entered a different neighborhood just by looking at the buildings.

You’ve probably heard of Lakeview and West Loop. While those options are excellent choices to call home, there are so many more neighborhoods around you could also explore.

Before you get started, consider what matters most to you when looking for the next place to call home. Are you thinking more about your budget or wanting a place that is close to attractions? Would you rather live in a quiet residential neighborhood or live on a busy street a few blocks from your favorite concert venue?

Researching all 77 communities takes a lot of work, and frankly, gets overwhelming. To make things a little easier on you, we narrowed down a few options to share. Here are the most affordable places to live in when looking for apartments for rent in Chicago.

Affordable neighborhoods

Buena Park

Average price for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,325

Buena Park resides north of Lakeview and south of Uptown, nestled between Graceland Cemetery and Lake Michigan. Residents enjoy living here for the quick access to Lake Shore Drive, Lakefront Trail, and it’s not too far from Lincoln Park Zoo. Buena Park is known to host concerts and movies in the summertime and is a great place to live if you enjoy being a quick walk away from attending a Chicago Cubs game. While this is a quiet residential neighborhood, the residents are very active and keep each other updated on local events.

South Shore

Average price for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,146

If you’re looking to be a little further south of the city, South Shore is an excellent option. This community is known to be the childhood home of Former First Lady Michelle Obama as well as the location of Harold’s Chicken Shack, which is considered to have the best fried chicken. It is also located close to Hyde Park and the University of Chicago.

The locals of South Shore enjoy this neighborhood for being close to Lake Michigan, Rainbow Beach, and Stony Island Arts Bank. Its also home to the South Shore Cultural Center, a 65-acre park that also offers a golf course, tennis courts, a nature center, and a culinary center.

West Ridge

Average price for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,046

If you enjoy having close access to the lake, then Rogers Park is for you! Rogers Park is known to have one of the most diverse populations because it offers one of the cheapest rents. Residents enjoy the low cost of living while having unparalleled access to Lake Michigan. Rogers Park is located about 10 miles north of downtown but is easily accessible using the CTA red line.

It’s home to Loyola University Chicago, so you can expect a bit of a college-town feel. That also means coffee shops and cheap but delicious restaurants and bars.

Ready to start exploring?

We’ve barely uncovered the wonder of these neighborhoods. And this is just four of the 77 communities Chicago has to offer. We hope reading about a few of these locations gets you excited as you consider where you want to live. If you’re ready to start searching for your apartment, sign up with Brixbid to bid up to the amount you’re willing to pay.