Chicago Winter Costs 2026-27: Heating, Parking, Transit

Key takeaway: Chicago winter costs are predictable if you plan: Peoples Gas supply is 32.83 cents a therm in October 2026, federal forecasters expect Midwest gas heating bills to average $613 this winter (down 10%), and the overnight parking ban starts December 1.

Chicago winter costs: 32.83¢ Peoples Gas supply per therm, October 2026; $613 forecast Midwest gas heating bill this winter, down 10% — Key numbers from this guide, fall 2026. Each figure is sourced in the text below.

Winter changes a Chicago budget in a few specific places: heat, getting around, and the car. Here’s what each one costs this season and the programs that help.

From Joe: My winter tip: be ready for everything.

Joe Bjorklund, founder of ChicagoCostOfLiving.com. More about Joe

To get ready: what the coldest days do to CTA and rideshare costs, winter parking rules and tow costs and heating bills.

What does Peoples Gas heating cost this winter?

Charge (residential heating, Rate 1)	October 2026
Gas supply	$0.3283 per therm
Distribution	$0.46583 per therm
Storage	$0.08257 per therm
Customer charge	$25.81 a month

Source: Peoples Gas natural gas rates, October 2026. The supply price changes every month and is about 8.5% higher than October 2025, per the Citizens Utility Board. Supply peaked last winter at 41.81 cents a therm in January 2026 (CUB), so expect it to climb as temperatures drop.

The good news: the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects Midwest households heating with natural gas to spend an average of $613 this winter, 10% less than last winter, with prices down 8% (EIA Winter Fuels Outlook).

The Peoples Gas rate case

Peoples Gas has asked state regulators for a delivery rate increase. It cut its request to $144 million in July 2026, which CUB estimated at about $6 to $8 a month, and an Illinois Commerce Commission Proposed Order recommends $66.2 million. The final decision is expected in November, with new rates around December (CUB). We’ll update this page when the ICC rules.

Help with heating bills

Budget billing: Peoples Gas splits your estimated yearly cost into 12 equal payments for free, so January doesn’t hit as hard (Peoples Gas).
Winter shutoff protection: from December 1 to March 31, Illinois limits disconnections for gas- and electric-heated homes when temperatures are forecast at or below 32 degrees, and utilities must offer a payment plan first (Shaw Local, citing the ICC).
LIHEAP: Illinois’ energy assistance opened October 1 for priority groups (60 and older, people with disabilities, households with a child 5 or under, and households facing shutoff) and November 1 for everyone else. Apply by August 13, 2027 or until funds run out; call 1-833-711-0374 (Illinois DCEO).

Household size	LIHEAP income limit (yearly)
1	$47,880
2	$64,920
3	$81,960
4	$99,000

Source: Illinois DCEO, 2027 program year (300% of federal poverty guidelines, based on the 30 days before you apply); also reported by NBC Chicago.

Electricity in winter

ComEd’s price to compare is 10.103 cents per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027: 8.413 cents for supply and 1.69 cents for transmission. The transmission part changes again in January (Plug In Illinois). That’s a little lower than the summer price of 10.399 cents.

Winterize to cut Chicago winter costs

Program	What you get
Peoples Gas equipment rebates (2026)	$25 smart thermostat; $200 to $225 high-efficiency furnace; $300 to $500 boilers; $150 tankless water heater
Peoples Gas weatherization rebates	Air sealing up to $400 and attic insulation up to $500, $1,200 max per project, with an approved contractor
Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program	Free air sealing, insulation and furnace repair or replacement for households at or below 200% of poverty ($31,920 for one person)
Chicago Bungalow Association Home Energy Savings	Free home energy assessment and discounted products for households at or below 80% of area median income

Source: Peoples Gas residential rebates; Peoples Gas weatherization rebates; Illinois DCEO weatherization; Chicago Bungalow Association.

How do Chicago snow bans and winter parking rules work?

Rule	When	Where
Winter overnight parking ban	December 1 to April 1, 3 a.m. to 7 a.m., snow or not	107 miles of main streets
2-inch snow parking ban	Any time 2 inches of snow is on the street	500 miles of main streets

Getting caught costs at least a $150 tow, $25 a day in storage and a $60 ticket (City of Chicago). Check the signs on your block before you park for the night.

Getting around in the cold

CTA: a 30-day pass is still $75 (CTA), and outdoor L platforms have overhead heaters the CTA turns on in November (CTA).
Rideshare: every Chicago ride carries a city surcharge, $1.13 citywide according to Uber, plus $1.50 in the downtown congestion zone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (NBC Chicago) and $5 more to the airports, Navy Pier or McCormick Place.
The math: at 10 rideshare trips a month, city surcharges alone add $11 to $26 before the fare itself. The CTA pass covers unlimited rides for $75.

Car costs in winter

Winter tires: a set of four runs $400 to $1,200 before installation, according to AAA.
Garage parking: SpotHero lists an average of about $190 a month in Chicago, with downtown garages from $135 to $320 (SpotHero). A garage spot also keeps you clear of the parking bans.
For the full yearly picture, see what it costs to own a car in Chicago.

Related: ComEd and Peoples Gas bills, parking costs and how much it costs to live in Chicago. Also see our Chicago Winter Transit and Gas Index, which measures what the coldest days do to CTA and rideshare trips.

Chicago winter costs 2026-27: heat, parking and getting around