ComEd and Peoples Gas in 2026: what to expect on your bills
Peoples Gas trimmed its rate request by nearly 30%, Chicago water rates rose less than last year, and here is what is behind the summer ComEd change.
Utilities
Transit
No, CTA fares didn’t go up in 2026
A ride on the L is still $2.50 and a bus ride is still $2.25. The fare hike you may have read about was dropped.
Taxes and Fees
Chicago sales tax in 2026: what you’ll pay at the register
Since August 1, 2026, most purchases in Chicago carry a 10.5% sales tax. Here’s the breakdown, what it adds to common purchases, and the 1% grocery tax Chicago no longer charges.
Neighborhoods
Chicago rent by ZIP code: where your money goes further
Average rents across Chicago ZIP codes ran from about $1,525 to $3,200 this summer. Here is how 11 of them compare, plus what is happening in the suburbs.
Rent and Housing
What a one-bedroom really costs in Chicago right now
The typical Chicago one-bedroom rents for about $2,079 a month, but depending on which report you read you will see anything from about $1,800 to $2,400. Here is why.