c/chicago-relocation

A Renter's Tale: My gas bill dropped $40 after I sealed one drafty window in my Humboldt Park apartment last January

I used a $6 roll of weatherstripping from the hardware store on that old single-pane window and within a month my monthly bill went from $120 to $80, has anyone else seen that kind of jump from such a small fix?

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dakotawood•4h ago

Tried the U-Haul vs. Budget Truck comparison when I moved from Evanston to Logan Square last month

I rented a Budget truck cause it was $20 cheaper but man, that thing had zero pickup going up the Kennedy on-ramp. Barely made it to 45 mph and cars were flying around me like I was parked. U-Haul might cost more but at least you don't feel like you're gonna get rear-ended the whole way. Anyone else have a brand that just handled Chicago hills better for their move?

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alex_johnson•11h ago

I finally hit $2,000 in moving costs and it felt like a win

Everyone talks about how expensive Chicago is, but I moved from a cheap city in Texas and my total relocation came to exactly $2,030. That included renting a U-Haul, gas, and a couple nights at a motel near Springfield. Why does nobody mention that moving here can actually be cheaper if you ditch the big moving companies? Anyone else find a lower number than they expected when they added it all up?

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riley_schmidt•1d ago

Tried taking the Metra from Naperville to Ogilvie for 2 weeks straight

I moved to Naperville last month thinking I'd save on rent and just commute downtown for work. First week I did the drive, parked near Ogilvie, paid $28 a day. Second week I tried the Metra from the Naperville station. Ticket was about $7 each way, so $14 total. But here's the thing - the train took 45 minutes each way, which is actually faster than my drive during rush hour. Plus I could sit and read or scroll my phone instead of gripping the steering wheel. Learned that the monthly pass cuts it down to around $100 total, way cheaper than parking alone. Anyone else make the switch from driving to Metra and find it changed your whole commute vibe?

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ellis.mia•1d ago

Moved from Logan Square to Lincoln Park and the vibe shift was wild

I spent 4 years in Logan Square and loved the gritty artsy scene, but after my rent jumped $600 in one year I had to bounce. Landed in Lincoln Park 3 months ago and it's like a totally different city - everyone's in athleisure and the bars close at 11 instead of 3am. Anybody else feel like you're leaving a whole social life behind when you move neighborhoods in Chicago?

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mia748•1d ago

My apartment search fell apart when the broker ghosted me after I sent my deposit

I found this great place in Logan Square last month, 2 bedroom for $1,600. Sent the deposit via Zelle, $500, and then the guy just stopped answering calls and texts. Turned out he was listing places that were already rented out. I had to scramble and found a studio in Avondale for $1,400 instead, but it's way smaller. Has anyone else run into shady brokers around here?

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grace_bailey•3d ago

Wasted $600 on a mover who ghosted me on moving day

Booked this small moving company off Craigslist for my Uptown to Logan Square move last Saturday, paid a $600 deposit upfront. They never showed up, phone disconnected by noon, and I had to scramble for a U-Haul at double the price. Anyone else get burned by unlicensed movers in this city?

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aaron884•4d ago

People keep calling the L the 'subway' and it drives me nuts

Moved here six months ago from Boston. Every time someone says 'subway' I cringe. It's the L, it's above ground half the time. Saw a guy with a map ask where the subway entrance was at Clark and Lake. Pointed up.

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bettywood•6d ago

Swapped my winter commute from the Kennedy to the Metra and saved $120

I used to drive from Naperville every morning and it was brutal. Sit in traffic for an hour, pay $20 for parking, just to get to my office in the Loop. Six weeks ago I started taking the Metra instead. Now I read a book on the train and my total monthly costs dropped from $400 to $280. Has anyone else made the switch from driving to public transit?

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lane.cameron•6d ago

Stumbled into that Little Italy bakery on Taylor Street last weekend

Three different people recommended the same spot and I walked in expecting just bread, but the line was out the door for their sfogliatelle. Is that place always that packed or did I just hit a weird Saturday?

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derekjenkins•8d ago

After 3 months checking out Lincoln Park vs Logan Square for apartments, Lincoln Park won by a mile

I was dead set on Logan Square for the food scene, but after timing my commute from each neighborhood to the Loop during rush hour, Lincoln Park saved me 20 minutes each way. Has anyone else found that parking situation varies wildly between neighborhoods?

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jenniferw82•9d ago

Met a neighbor at the 63rd Street farmers market who changed my whole moving plan

Last Saturday I was grabbing some apples and this older woman named Linda just started talking to me about the neighborhood. She told me about the 55th street rowhomes and how the bus runs every 10 minutes during rush hour. Her tip saved me from signing a lease on a place that would have been a pain to commute from. Anyone else had a random stranger give them the best advice they got?

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henderson.wesley•10d ago

Spent $400 on a parking spot in Lincoln Park and it saved my sanity

I moved to Chicago last month from the suburbs and thought I could get by with street parking in Lincoln Park. Big mistake. After getting 3 tickets in two weeks for street cleaning and zone violations, I caved and rented a spot in a nearby garage for $400 a month. It hurts the wallet but I am not lying when I say it cut my stress by half. No more circling the block for 20 minutes after work or waking up early to move the car. Plus my insurance went down like $15 a month for having off-street parking. Anyone else shell out for a parking spot here or is it just me?

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claire_ramirez•10d ago

Vent: Got locked out of my rental viewing in Logan Square last month

I had a 10am appointment to see a 2-bedroom apartment I found on a listing site, but the landlord never showed up and didn't answer my calls. I stood outside for 45 minutes in the rain before giving up and heading home. Has anyone else had trouble with landlords ghosting on scheduled showings around here?

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claire_ramirez•11d ago

Found out that rents in Logan Square have gone up like 40% since I moved here in 2015

Was looking at old Craigslist emails from 2014 and saw my first apartment there was $950 for a one bedroom, and now the same building is listed for $1,350, which honestly made me feel weird about how fast this neighborhood has changed.

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nancy475•11d ago

Hit exactly 12,000 miles on my car the day I moved to Chicago and it freaked me out

I drove up from St. Louis with a U-Haul trailer and right as I hit the city limits my odometer rolled over to 12,000 miles exactly. I bought the car brand new two years ago and planned the move for months, but seeing that number line up with the skyline felt like a weird sign. I pulled over at a gas station on Western Ave and just sat there for a minute laughing at myself. Has anyone else had a random number or milestone sync up with their move like that?

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jesse994•14d ago

Moved from Humboldt Park to Logan Square last month and the difference in grocery prices is insane

Used to spend $60 a week at the Cermak on Division for the same basics that now cost me $90 at the Mariano's on Milwaukee, so is the walkability premium actually worth it or am I just paying for the aesthetic?

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dakotawood•16d ago

Got some real talk from a landlord in Hyde Park that changed how I look at rentals

Last month I was looking at a 2-bedroom in Hyde Park (beautiful unit, exposed brick, the works) and the landlord just came out and said 'you know, 90% of people who move to Chicago don't realize the heat bill in winter can run you $200 a month easy.' He wasn't trying to sell me, he was just being honest. That stuck with me because every other landlord I talked to was all sunshine and rooftop decks. It made me wonder if I should start asking every potential landlord for their average utility bills for the past year. Has anyone else had a landlord just throw out the real numbers like that?

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jamesfox•17d ago

Why does everyone moving here swear by Lincoln Park when Logan Square has way better train access for the price?

I've been tracking rent prices and commute times for the last three months and Logan Square consistently gives you a 2-bed for what a 1-bed costs in Lincoln Park, plus the Blue Line gets you to O'Hare in 40 minutes, so am I missing something obvious about why people skip over it?

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sage_ramirez42•20d ago

Picked Lakeview over Lincoln Park after 3 weeks of searching

I moved to Chicago last month for a job downtown and had it narrowed down to two neighborhoods. Lakeview had cheaper rent and a shorter train ride, but Lincoln Park felt safer at night. Anyone else make a similar choice and regret it or love it?

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allen.ivan•21d ago

I finally gave in on living in the suburbs after 3 years of fighting it

Moved to Chicago from Seattle 3 years ago and swore I'd never leave the city. Loved being able to walk to the L and hit up bars in Wicker Park anytime. But last month my girlfriend got a job in Naperville and we tried the train commute for two weeks straight. Realized I was spending 4 hours a day on transit just to stay in the city. We moved to a place near the Naperville train station two weeks ago and honestly the extra space and quiet is nice. Anyone else make the jump out of the city and regret it or not?

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lindaowens•1mo ago

The week I moved to Logan Square was pure chaos - anyone else have a brutal first week?

I landed a job in the loop and thought I found the perfect apartment on Milwaukee Ave. But my first Monday morning, the Blue Line was so packed I had to let three trains pass before I could squeeze on. I barely made it to work on time, and by Wednesday my moving company canceled last minute and I was hauling boxes up three flights of stairs in the rain. So which is worse for a newcomer - the commute shock or the moving logistics?

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johnson.jason•1mo ago

Tired of everyone saying Lincoln Park is the only safe neighborhood for families

I keep seeing posts from people moving here with kids, and every single comment says move to Lincoln Park or get out. I have lived in Portage Park for 5 years with my two kids and never had a single problem. We have a huge backyard, good schools within walking distance, and my rent is $1,400 less than my friend pays for a one bedroom in Lincoln Park. Has anyone else found a hidden gem neighborhood that gets ignored for families?

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gracewebb•1mo ago

Question about using neighborhood Facebook groups to find a rental in Logan Square

I spent 3 months fighting with Zillow and hotpads in Chicago, getting nowhere. Then I joined 4 local Logan Square Facebook groups and found a place in 6 days by just posting what I needed. Landlord was a guy who never lists online and had a 2-bedroom for $1,400. Has anyone else had luck skipping the big sites for finding apartments here?

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ray363•1mo ago

3 years in Lincoln Park taught me something about winter parking

Last week I watched a guy spend 15 minutes digging out a space he'd shoveled hours earlier, only to have someone else grab it. That was me my first winter here. After 3 years of street parking, I finally realized saving spots with lawn chairs is a Chicago tradition, not just laziness. My neighbor Mike explained it to me after I got an earful moving his orange cone - he's been parking on the same block since 2017. Has anyone else had to learn the unwritten parking rules the hard way?

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