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Rental Market Trends in Chicago, IL

What is the average rent in Chicago, IL?

$2,037/month

Average Rent

658 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+3%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Chicago, IL is $2,037 per month. This is 24% higher than the national average rent price of $1,641/month, making Chicago one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Chicago, you can expect to pay about $1,642 per month for a studio, $2,037 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,562 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,072 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,642/month
440 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,037/month
658 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,562/month
919 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,072/month
1,189 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,826/month
625 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,213/month
923 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,614/month
1,227 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$4,692/month
1,769 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,260/month
611 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,947/month
934 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,690/month
1,406 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$4,468/month
1,484 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,696/month
1,080 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,596/month
1,443 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,802/month
1,952 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Chicago, IL?

In the past year, rent has increased by 3%, which averages out to $62 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Chicago, IL
Last Updated April 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Chicago, IL
Percentage*
Rent Range
2% Below $700/month
21% $700 - $1,000/month
35% $1,001 - $1,500/month
18% $1,501 - $2,000/month
24% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Chicago?

Based on current rent prices, Greater Grand Crossing, Avalon Park and Brighton Park are the most affordable neighborhoods in Chicago.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Greater Grand Crossing
$966/month
679 Sq Ft
Avalon Park
$1,076/month
622 Sq Ft
Brighton Park
$1,110/month
788 Sq Ft
South Chicago
$1,131/month
676 Sq Ft
Gresham
$1,155/month
772 Sq Ft
Chatham
$1,187/month
653 Sq Ft
Woodlawn
$1,201/month
619 Sq Ft
Austin
$1,210/month
592 Sq Ft
South Shore
$1,255/month
652 Sq Ft
Washington Park
$1,463/month
612 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Chicago?

Based on current rent prices, Cabrini-Green, River North and Fulton Market are the most expensive neighborhoods in Chicago.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Cabrini-Green
$3,369/month
707 Sq Ft
River North
$3,324/month
779 Sq Ft
Fulton Market
$3,288/month
730 Sq Ft
Near North Side
$3,255/month
736 Sq Ft
New East Side
$3,190/month
744 Sq Ft
Edison Park
$3,160/month
821 Sq Ft
Lakeshore East
$3,160/month
733 Sq Ft
Magnificent Mile
$3,146/month
755 Sq Ft
Gold Coast
$3,145/month
742 Sq Ft
West Loop
$3,098/month
721 Sq Ft

Which Chicago neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Chicago with the most apartments available are Downtown Chicago, North Lakefront and West Loop .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Chicago
$3,035/month
738 Sq Ft
North Lakefront
$2,628/month
728 Sq Ft
West Loop
$3,098/month
721 Sq Ft
Lakeview
$2,273/month
690 Sq Ft
South Loop
$2,789/month
724 Sq Ft
Lake View East
$2,292/month
685 Sq Ft
Near North Side
$3,255/month
736 Sq Ft
Magnificent Mile
$3,146/month
755 Sq Ft
Far North Chicago
$1,853/month
723 Sq Ft
River North
$3,324/month
779 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Chicago, IL?

Because the average rent in Chicago is $2,037, you’ll want to make about $6,790 per month or $81,480 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Chicago, IL is 17.6% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Chicago is 43.8% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,642 - $3,072. You can expect to pay 3.6% more for groceries, 5.5% less for utilities, and 4.3% more for transportation.

City

Chicago, IL

19,581 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Chicago, IL compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Chicago, IL to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Chicago, IL

Apartment Averages

Greater Grand Crossing

Chicago, IL

Cabrini-Green

Chicago, IL

Studio
$1,201/month
-
One Bedroom
$1,586/month
-
Two Bedroom
$2,157/month
-
Three Bedroom
$2,424/month
-
Search
Search

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Cicero Average Rent
  • Stickney Average Rent
  • Berwyn Average Rent
  • Riverside Average Rent
  • Oak Park Average Rent
  • Lyons Average Rent
  • Forest Park Average Rent

Apartment communities in Chicago we think you'll love

Presidential Towers

Presidential Towers

555 W Madison St,
Chicago, IL 60661

$1,515 - $5,530

Studio - 2 Beds

Rogers Park Apartments

Rogers Park Apartments

2000-2006 W Fargo Ave,
Chicago, IL 60645

$1,750 - $1,800

2 Beds

Shoreham and Tides

Shoreham and Tides

400 E South Water St,
Chicago, IL 60601

$2,118 - $8,987

Studio - 2 Beds

Lake Meadows Apartments

Lake Meadows Apartments

3233 S King,
Chicago, IL 60616

$1,015 - $3,670

Studio - 3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Chicago, IL

Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 718

    Communities

  • 198,303

    Units

  • 341

    Cities

35 Communities in Chicago
Planned Property Management
Planned Property Management
  • 22

    Communities

  • 3,142

    Units

  • 1

    City

22 Communities in Chicago
Horizon Realty Group
Horizon Realty Group
  • 22

    Communities

  • 2,147

    Units

  • 1

    City

22 Communities in Chicago
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,489

    Communities

  • 960,008

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

21 Communities in Chicago
Mac Properties
Mac Properties
  • 44

    Communities

  • 7,731

    Units

  • 3

    Cities

21 Communities in Chicago
Group Fox
Group Fox
  • 21

    Communities

  • 3,986

    Units

  • 3

    Cities

20 Communities in Chicago
BJB Properties
BJB Properties
  • 26

    Communities

  • 4,080

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

18 Communities in Chicago
TLC Management
TLC Management
  • 30

    Communities

  • 5,743

    Units

  • 11

    Cities

17 Communities in Chicago

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United States Illinois Chicago Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity