Moving to Chicago
 

Help Please. There is a small chance that I may be relocating from the NYC area to Chicago. If I do relocate, I will be working downtown (near Wacker & Franklin)and would prefer a short commute. I currently pay $1800 for a one bedroom now. The problem is, is that I am expecting a pay cut if hired, and not sure how much of a pay cut. From my research, Chicago is cheaper than my area but still. I realize this is a very subjective question, but what is a decent salary (not trying to be rich) to earn in Chicago assuming I want a one bedroom apartment (in a good part of town). Will $80K help me do me ok or will I need a higher NYC salary. I've done the online salary calculator thing, but was hoping for a real perspective...thanks

Hi Gladiator, for one thing you don't have to live downtown in order to have an easy commute. That's one of the cool things about Chicago, the EL(elevated train). I would really recommend you search for atps in these following areas:
Lincoln Square:
old german neighbourhood with reasonable prices for living and only about 25 minute train ride to downtown. Great variety of restaurants. Laid back
Wicker Park:
lots of things to do at night if you like the bar scene and restaurants, kind of a hipster area.
Lincoln Park:
only a 10-15 minute ride to downtown, little more costly than Lincon Square,also a hip area

Keep in mind when looking for an apartment that you should try to live close to a train line if you are without a car.

In all these areas, for a one bedroom apt, you should be able to find things in the $900-$1200 range.

Good luck in Chicago.

Suzanne,www.vacationsbyrail.com

Reasonable salary range, $1800 a month for Chicago.

Suzanne, www.vacationsbyrail.com

your lucky i want to live in chicago

You should be able to get a one-bedroom in a desirable part of town without too much difficulty for around 1000 a month (or less if you look). You will not however, be able to live downtown (in the LOOP or South LOOP) on less than probably 1300 a month. I live around the Wicker Park area and can usually make it downtown in 30-35 minutes (20 minutes if I ride my bicycle) and there are plenty of one bedrooms over there in the 900 dollar range. You'll do fine renting on 80k, I make probably almost 1/2 that and I live rather comfortably myself (but I don't have a car to contend with).