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Famous for its skyscrapers and impressive park system, the Windy City is a wonder for visitors and residents alike. If you’re looking to move to Chicago, you’ll love its rich history, diverse culture, amazing art, and unmatched dining experience.
Along with a vibrant art scene, Chicago is also home to beautiful beaches and a wide range of attractions. From The Pier to the Millennium Park, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium, there’s no shortage of things to do and sights to see here.
Chicago is also considered a center of technology, finance, trade, transportation, and telecommunication. People flock here to further their careers, attend top schools, and live in one of the U.S.’s best cities. The quality of life in Chicago has also been named among the best, beating much-loved places like Miami and Los Angeles.
Looking to make it official with the Windy City? Here’s everything you need to know about moving to and living in Chicago.
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Chicago Best Neighborhoods to Move
These neighborhoods have a balance of diverse cultures, a thriving art scene, and a burgeoning number of elegant bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Moving to Chicago means having a variety of neighborhoods to select from, each of them has their own unique features and attractions. The following list will provide some information on the best Chicago neighborhoods to consider.
Molly Cathcart – June Relationship Manager CHI
Chicago has about 77 neighborhoods each with their own distinct culture and heritage. The architecture in the city is one of my favorite parts about living in Chicago, the city has a beautiful mix of new and old architecture throughout. While summer is one of my favorite seasons in Chicago, offering access to local beaches, outdoor sporting events, bike rides, boating, etc. Chicago still offers many options for the colder months as well. These include, dining, theater, museums, art galleries, indoor sports, shopping and more.
East Ukrainian Village
As the city’s most walkable neighborhood, the East Ukrainian Village is a paradise for avid walkers, cyclists and those who make use of public transport regularly. This exciting neighborhood is mostly popular among young families and working professionals and offers a diverse scene of food and entertainment, like the live music venue The Empty Bottle, and Star Lounge Coffee Bar.
Bucktown
Bucktown is an eccentric, artsy neighborhood with a quiet and intimate atmosphere. For those in search of a relaxed environment for decompressing from the bustle of downtown, Bucktown is the place to be.
Don’t let its relaxed vibe fool you. From night to day you’ll have a good time here with plenty of lively nightlife, live music, trending restaurants, and other local eclectic finds, like beer gardens and local coffee shops. South of Bucktown is the artsy Wicker Park with its lively center, Six Corners and The 606 Trail, where you can head if you’re in the mood for the outdoors.
Lake View
Due to its excellent public transportation and proximity to Downtown Chicago, you’ll mostly find young working professionals in the neighborhood of Lake View. It’s also home to Wrigley Field, where sports fans flock to catch Chicago Cub games, and a lively restaurant-bar scene. As the host of Chicago’s local LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, Lake View is known as a welcoming community that loves a party.
Logan Square
Logan Square is a trendy neighborhood in the Northwestern part of Chicago that boasts a small population of artists and creatives. Known for its abundance of farm-to-table restaurants, indie theaters, and boutique shops, this area is perfect for those who enjoy a lifestyle with a bit of an edge. Live here to explore activities like open air-food markets, indie film screenings at the Logan Theatre, or duckpin bowling on the regular.
Pilsen
Pilsen is a community of young professionals or students due to its proximity to the Loop and The University of Illinois. With a sizable Latino community, the neighborhood is historically known for its Mexican art and culture scenes in particular. Live here and you’ll be surrounded by colorful buildings boasting murals, authentic Mexican street food and booming nightlife. Home to The National Museum of Mexican Art, the area is also an attraction for visitors and locals looking to learn more about Mexican art, history and more.
West DePaul
West DePaul is a tucked-away neighborhood in the larger Lincoln Park area. One of the most desired neighborhoods in Chicago, DePaul is full of beautiful brick condos, vintage walk-ups, townhomes, and apartments that draw in young professionals and students.
Here you’ll never run out of things to do: from craft beers on a Friday night, to local pizza joints. For alternative dining options, check out the vegan cafe, farm-to-table restaurant, or the Lebanese fare to the West. Alternatively, there are plenty of restaurants and pizza joints nearby. Bike to Lincoln Park or have a relaxing day at the Biolife Organic Spa.
West Town
West Town is a lively neighborhood that gives an urban-suburban feel. It’s an eclectic area with a mix of restaurants, bars, shops, and live music venues.
West Town attracts active young professionals for its lively performance venues, thriving art galleries, record stores, and an enjoyable craft cocktail scene. There are also many things to do and exciting sights to see.
Have a rejuvenating spa experience in the AIRE ancient baths in a candlelit, historic building. Attend unique literary, film, and musical events at the Chopin theater. If you’re feeling like having Italian for lunch, Piccolo Sogno is an elegant place with a wide range of Italian wines.
People looking for an exciting, artsy neighborhood with diverse influences will love living here.
Wrigleyville
Wrigleyville is home to the famous Wrigley Field. You can’t miss catching a game when the Chicago Cubs are playing.
This neighborhood is situated around the stadium, a lively place bustling with sports bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. It offers plenty to residents and visitors, from a vibrant nightlife to a laid-back hometown spirit and fine dining experience.
Located in the Lakeview neighborhood is a lively community made up of active young professionals and young families who love the sporty, fun lifestyle.
If you’re looking to move here, your neighbors will likely be diehard baseball fans, college students, and young professionals. You’ll love it if you’re sporty, like bar-hopping, or enjoy watching the Cubs play. If there’s a game—day or night—the streets are full of fans looking to watch and celebrate.
During off-time, people spend their time on the lakefront trails and parks nearby running, jogging, and hiking, while others rollerblade and swim. Families visit the park that’s full of activities during off-game days.
Universities in Chicago
- The University of Illinois Chicago
- Loyola University Chicago
- Chicago State University
Chicago is well known for its universities. These schools represent the city’s diverse population and the variety of courses available to students. Many of these universities are within walking distance of one another, so it is easy for students moving to Chicago to take advantage of a range of opportunities.
The University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a public university located in the Near West Side neighborhood, neighboring the Chicago Loop. If you’re attending college here and looking for off-campus housing, there are culturally rich neighborhoods such as Pilsen, Greek Town, Little Italy, West Loop, and South Loop, among others.
Loyola University Chicago
Located at the heart of Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago is Loyola University. They also have other campuses and institutes in Gold Coast, Edgewater, and Water Tower.
The campuses are in vibrant neighborhoods with authentic and diverse populations. Stroll around the streets for live music, ice cream parlors, coffee shops, movie theaters, and restaurants offering global cuisines.
Students can get around Chicago in buses and trains that will take them almost anywhere. You can also bike around the campus and in Chicago, as numerous bicycle parking spaces are available.
Chicago State University
Chicago State University is an accredited public institution in the Southside neighborhood of Chicago. The broad range of extracurricular activities, such as athletic games, sororities, fraternities, and student government activities, makes campus life at CSU vibrant.
The university offers on-campus accommodation, but students who prefer to live off-campus can choose from the wide variety of apartments, condos, and houses available for rent in neighborhoods like Hyde Park.
Getting Around Chicago
- L Train
- Metra Rail
- Buses
- Water Taxi
- Biking
“L” Train
The “L” train is the best way to get around Chicago. The CTA operates the 8 “L” train lines, which connect the city via subway, above-ground, and street-level trains.
The system provides fast service to 145 stations in the city. Only two lines (Blue and Red lines) operate 24/7. A Standard one-way ticket costs $2.50, but there’s also the option to purchase a one-day pass at $10, a three-day pass at $20, and a seven-day pass at $28. Alternatively, get a Ventra Transit Card that you can reload and use on both the “L” trains and buses.
Metra Rail
The Metra Rail is a reliable public transportation method to the suburbs of Chicago. The system has 11 lines extending from the Loop with stations in South, East, and North Chicago. It then extends to nearby neighborhoods like Aurora, University Park, and Evanston.
A one-way ticket costs anywhere between $4 to $11, depending on the distance. If you want to move around on weekends, take advantage of the weekend pass at $10 for unlimited rides on Saturdays and Sundays.
Buses
There are more than 100 bus routes and express routes that connect travelers to multiple destinations and attractions in the city. Buses run every day with several routes operating 24 hours.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates convenient bus routes with multiple stops throughout the city. If you want to use the bus, train, or a combination, use the CTA trip planner. Just type in your location, where you’re going, and when you’d like to leave. The planner will show you the route and timing to help you get there.
A ride costs $2.50, and you can purchase multiple-day passes, similar to the “L” train.
Water Taxi Chicago
Water taxis, operated by two companies, are a fun and affordable way to get around central Chicago and connect between top tourist destinations.
You can use them to go to Chinatown, Willis Tower, The Pier, and Union Station. However, due to the weather, they only operate between late May and October. Fare prices depend on the taxi company and the day.
Biking in Chicago
Chicago is made for cycling with 200+ miles of buffered, protected, conventional, dashed, and marked shared bike lanes. You can use Divvy, Chicago’s bike-sharing system with 5800 bikes and 580+ stations across the city.
Rent bikes 24/7 at $15 for a day pass and $3.30 for a single ride. Pick a bike at one of Divvy’s self-service docking stations and return it to a nearby station.
Shannon Lutz – June Relationship Manager CHI
One of my favorite things to do in the city is walk along the famous Chicago River walk. Newly rehabbed it features many restaurants along the water with outdoor dining like brewhouse, Tiny Tapp, O’ Brien’s, Beat Kitchen and Riverwalk wine Garden. You can hop on a water taxi and take it Chinatown for authentic dumplings or hand pulled noodles. You can also take an Architectural Boat tour of the city and view some of our famous architecture like the Marina City our famous Honeycomb buildings designed by Bertrand Goldberg.
Chicago Housing
When researching how much money you’ll need to moving to Chicago -monthly expenses and the cost of housing is a top priority. Rents vary depending on several factors, such as the size and location of the apartment. Expect to pay between $1,400 and $2,700 per month.
If you’re not a US citizen, this guide on renting in the US as an international resident has everything you need to know.
The average cost of a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,845, $2,200 for a 2-bedroom apartment, and about $2,600 for a 3-bedroom. The more affluent neighborhoods, such as River West, Streeterville, and Goose Island, have high rents compared to more affordable areas like The Island, Austin, and West Pullman.
However, consider renting a shared apartment if you want to moving to Chicago in a good neighborhood at affordable prices. Co-living with roommates means you’ll share the rent, making it cheaper.
Moving to Chicago? June is here to help!
At June Homes, we’ll help you find an apartment in your preferred neighborhood. Whether you’re looking to rent an entire apartment or a private room, we have units in different parts of the city. Plus, the process is simple.
Find a home, take a tour, and sign a lease in as little as 3 hours
