What is the average apartment size in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL?

The average size for a Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL apartment is 789 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Downtown Chicago?

As of Feb / 2026, the average rent in Downtown Chicago is $3,034 per month, a 0.87% increase from last years average of $3,008.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Downtown Chicago?

In Downtown Chicago, studios rent for $2,194 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,843 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,611 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $4,845 per month

What is the average apartment size in Downtown Chicago?

The typical apartment in Downtown Chicago offers about 789 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Downtown Chicago?

Studio apartments in Downtown Chicago average 490 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 733 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 1,094 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,160 sq. ft.

Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Downtown Chicago?

The typical rent budget in Downtown Chicago ranges from $2,501 to $3,000 per month, with 32% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Downtown Chicago?

In Downtown Chicago, 60% of households rent while 40% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: April 10, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Downtown Chicago is $3,034, a 0.87% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,008.

Studio Apartments at $2,194 offer the most budget-friendly option with 490 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 733 square feet for $2,843, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $3,611 offer 1,094 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,160 sq ft) for $4,845, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL

Last updated: April 10, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,034	789 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,194	490 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,843	733 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,611	1,094 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$4,845	1,160 sq. ft.

Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL rent trends

Rental prices in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL have increased by 0.87% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,008 to $3,034.

What's the typical rent budget in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL?

The largest share of rentals in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL (32%) fall between $2,501-$3,000 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL?

8,858 or 60% of the households in Downtown Chicago, Chicago, IL are renter-occupied while 5,899 or 40% are owner-occupied.

Most affordable neighborhoods in Downtown Chicago?

Jackson Park Highlands $1,069/month

Austin $1,088/month

Washington Park $1,194/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $2,455/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Downtown Chicago?

River North $3,355/month

Wrightwood $3,677/month

Sheffield $3,793/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in Chicago, IL By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Sheffield	$3,793
Wrightwood	$3,677
River North	$3,355
Greektown	$3,338
Fulton Market	$3,316
Streeterville	$3,236
Near East Side Chicago	$3,081
Old Town Chicago	$3,079
Bucktown	$3,052
Downtown Chicago	$3,034
Goose Island	$3,030
River West	$2,998
Old Town Triangle	$2,998
Near West Side	$2,975
Wicker Park	$2,963
Chicago Loop	$2,962
Near North Side Chicago	$2,914
Fulton River District	$2,902
Humboldt Park	$2,777
East Village	$2,768
South Loop	$2,726
Tri-Taylor	$2,639
Gold Coast	$2,587
Printer's Row	$2,528
Cabrini - Green	$2,453
Lincoln Park	$2,351
West Loop	$2,264
Little Italy	$2,216
Lakeview	$2,209
Logan Square	$2,203
Ravenswood	$2,081
East Hyde Park	$2,035
Andersonville	$1,971
Clarendon Park	$1,947
Oakland	$1,931
Kenwood	$1,930
Palmer Square	$1,928
Park West	$1,895
Stateway Gardens	$1,857
Hyde Park	$1,791
Uptown Chicago	$1,725
Buena Park	$1,706
Margate Park	$1,578
Bronzeville	$1,577
Bryn Mawr Historic District	$1,563
Budlong Woods	$1,551
North Kenwood	$1,495
Rogers Park	$1,486
West Rogers Park	$1,480
Woodlawn	$1,459
East Garfield Park	$1,420
Edgewater Beach	$1,413
Jefferson Park	$1,345
South Shore	$1,338
Edgewater	$1,322
Douglas Park	$1,309
Englewood	$1,286
Sheridan Park	$1,285
Washington Park	$1,194
Austin	$1,088
Jackson Park Highlands	$1,069

Chicago | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Downtown Chicago is 54% higher than in Andersonville

$3,034

Downtown Chicago rent is the same as Chicago average

Average Rent $3,034

$1,971

Andersonville rent is 35% lower than Chicago average

Average Rent $1,971

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Downtown Chicago apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.