Key takeaway: Of the 92 Chicago neighborhoods we track, 43 have a typical one-bedroom under $1,500 a month in fall 2026, and 18 of those have an L station inside the neighborhood. Use the finder below to match your own budget and commute.
Most people start a Chicago apartment search with a neighborhood in mind and then find out what it costs. This tool works the other way: tell it what you can spend and how you want to get around, and it shows every neighborhood that fits, with the income you would need and the transit nearby.
Find Chicago neighborhoods that fit your budget
Set your monthly rent budget and how you want to get around. Results update as you change anything.
Rents are the typical figures from each neighborhood profile, fall 2026. Income needed is our calculation: rent times 40, so rent is 30% of gross pay.
How the finder works
- Rents are the typical one- and two-bedroom figures from each neighborhood profile, drawn from Zumper, RentHop and RentCafe in fall 2026. “Half of a two-bedroom” is half the two-bedroom figure, rounded.
- L lines come from the City of Chicago’s list of L stops matched to each neighborhood. Turn off “count stations just outside the neighborhood” to see only areas with a station inside them.
- Income needed is our calculation: rent times 40, which keeps rent at 30% of gross pay. For a fuller picture with taxes and other bills, use our salary calculator.
One-bedroom under $1,250 a month
| Neighborhood | One-bedroom | L lines | Part of the city |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Chicago | $970 | None | South Side |
| Englewood | $1,000 | Red, Green | South Side |
| Chatham | $1,010 | Red | South Side |
| Avalon Park | $1,010 | None | South Side |
| Roseland | $1,027 | None (Red Line Extension due 2030) | South Side |
| Washington Park | $1,032 | Green, Red | South Side |
| Auburn Gresham | $1,032 | Red (east edge) | South Side |
| West Garfield Park | $1,050 | Green, Blue | West Side |
| Greater Grand Crossing | $1,055 | Red | South Side |
| Washington Heights | $1,075 | None (bus to Red Line) | South Side |
| West Englewood | $1,075 | Green | South Side |
| Pullman | $1,080 | None (Red Line Extension due 2030) | South Side |
| East Side | $1,080 | None | South Side |
| Burnside | $1,087 | None (bus to Red Line) | South Side |
| South Shore | $1,100 | None | South Side |
| South Deering | $1,125 | None (bus to Red Line) | South Side |
| Riverdale | $1,125 | None (Red Line Extension due 2030) | South Side |
| Fuller Park | $1,144 | Red | South Side |
| North Lawndale | $1,150 | Pink, Blue | West Side |
| Little Village | $1,155 | Pink | West Side |
| Brighton Park | $1,170 | Orange | South Side |
| Austin | $1,175 | Green, Blue | West Side |
| Gage Park | $1,200 | None (buses to Orange Line) | South Side |
| Chicago Lawn | $1,200 | None | South Side |
| Back of the Yards and Canaryville | $1,225 | None (Red Line nearby) | South Side |
One-bedroom from $1,250 to $1,749
| Neighborhood | One-bedroom | L lines | Part of the city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hegewisch | $1,250 | None | South Side |
| West Pullman | $1,285 | None (Red Line Extension due 2030) | South Side |
| Mount Greenwood | $1,295 | None | South Side |
| Archer Heights | $1,295 | Orange | South Side |
| Clearing | $1,295 | None (Orange Line nearby) | South Side |
| West Elsdon | $1,295 | Orange nearby | South Side |
| Morgan Park | $1,299 | None | South Side |
| Garfield Ridge | $1,300 | Orange | South Side |
| West Lawn | $1,300 | None (Orange Line nearby) | South Side |
| Humboldt Park | $1,350 | Blue and Green nearby | West Side |
| East Garfield Park | $1,350 | Green, Blue | West Side |
| Calumet Heights | $1,350 | None | South Side |
| McKinley Park | $1,395 | Orange | South Side |
| Bronzeville | $1,399 | Green, Red | South Side |
| Belmont Cragin | $1,400 | None | Northwest Side |
| Ashburn | $1,400 | None | South Side |
| Galewood | $1,475 | None | West Side |
| Bridgeport | $1,495 | Orange, Red | South Side |
| Portage Park | $1,500 | Blue nearby | Northwest Side |
| West Ridge | $1,500 | None (bus to Red Line) | North Side |
| Chinatown | $1,500 | Red, Green | South Side |
| O’Hare | $1,500 | Blue nearby | Northwest Side |
| North Park | $1,500 | None (Brown Line nearby) | North Side |
| Old Irving Park | $1,538 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| Hermosa | $1,545 | None | Northwest Side |
| Albany Park | $1,550 | Brown | Northwest Side |
| Hyde Park | $1,550 | Green (west edge) | South Side |
| Rogers Park | $1,550 | Red, Purple, Yellow | North Side |
| Norwood Park | $1,550 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| Edison Park | $1,550 | None (Blue Line nearby) | Northwest Side |
| Beverly | $1,575 | None | South Side |
| Montclare | $1,575 | None | Northwest Side |
| Irving Park | $1,595 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| Jefferson Park | $1,600 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| Sauganash and Forest Glen | $1,600 | None | Northwest Side |
| Ukrainian Village | $1,600 | Blue nearby | West Side |
| Pilsen | $1,625 | Pink | West Side |
| Oakland | $1,645 | Green nearby | South Side |
| Woodlawn | $1,650 | Green | South Side |
One-bedroom from $1,750 to $2,499
| Neighborhood | One-bedroom | L lines | Part of the city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenwood | $1,775 | Green (west) | South Side |
| Avondale | $1,795 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| Dunning | $1,800 | None | Northwest Side |
| Edgewater | $1,847 | Red | North Side |
| Uptown | $1,895 | Red, Purple | North Side |
| Lincoln Square | $1,897 | Brown | North Side |
| Ravenswood | $1,981 | Brown | North Side |
| North Center | $1,995 | Brown | North Side |
| Roscoe Village | $2,095 | None (Brown Line nearby) | North Side |
| Logan Square | $2,095 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| Printer’s Row | $2,100 | All lines | Downtown |
| Andersonville | $2,150 | Red | North Side |
| Lakeview | $2,195 | Red, Brown, Purple | North Side |
| Little Italy and University Village | $2,343 | Blue | West Side |
| Lakeview East and Northalsted | $2,350 | Red, Brown, Purple | North Side |
| South Loop | $2,494 | Red, Green, Orange, Blue, Brown, Pink, Purple | Downtown |
One-bedroom at $2,500 and up
| Neighborhood | One-bedroom | L lines | Part of the city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Park | $2,561 | Red, Brown, Purple | North Side |
| Lakeshore East | $2,630 | Loop lines nearby | Downtown |
| Bucktown | $2,637 | Blue | Northwest Side |
| DePaul and Sheffield | $2,650 | Red, Brown, Purple | North Side |
| Wrigleyville | $2,695 | Red | North Side |
| Gold Coast | $2,699 | Red, Brown, Purple | Downtown |
| River North | $2,800 | Red, Brown, Purple, Blue | Downtown |
| West Loop | $2,804 | Blue, Green, Pink | Downtown |
| Old Town | $2,871 | Brown, Purple, Red | Downtown |
| Wicker Park | $2,880 | Blue | West Side |
| Streeterville | $2,917 | Red | Downtown |
| Fulton Market | $3,104 | Blue, Green, Pink | Downtown |
Source: the rent figure used in each neighborhood profile’s sample budget, fall 2026; L lines from the City of Chicago list of L stops. Each profile links to its own rent sources and dates. Rents for a specific apartment will vary with size, building age and amenities.
Found a neighborhood you like? Compare it side by side with others in our neighborhood cost comparison, and check the key citywide numbers in our Chicago cost index.