I live in Chicago and have for many, many years. I'd be happy to provide information (and opinions!) to prospective Chicago residents. I'm also pretty familiar with the major universities (U of C, UIC, Loyola, DePaul).
On edit: I am going to include a whole bunch of helpful info about Chicago right up front, and then people with specific questions can feel free to ask away.
The city of Chicago is divided into 77 distinct community areas. Each area is pretty unique, and the cost of living varies depending on which area you live in. To make it more confusing, some community areas have neighborhood names that mark a certain set of blocks. For example, in the community area LAKEVIEW, there is a neighborhood called BOYSTOWN, which is where there have historically been larger numbers of GLBT individuals and businesses.
1. This link will take you to a map of the 77 community areas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_areas_of_Chicago
2. This link is an excellent overview of the different neighborhoods within the designated community areas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhoods_of_Chicago
3. Here are the community areas for some of the major universities within Chicago city limits:
IIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas%2C_Chicago
UIC and Rush Medical College: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_West_Side%2C_Chicago
U of Chicago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park%2C_Chicago
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, DePaul Downtown Campus, Roosevelt University, Columbia College, John Marshall Law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Loop
Loyola University Chicago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogers_Park%2C_Chicago
DePaul University Lincoln Park Campus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Park%2C_Chicago
4. Here is the link to the Chicago Transit Authority. A monthly unlimited pass (trains and buses) runs $75 a month.
http://www.transitchicago.com/
Be sure to check with your university to see if they participate in the U-Pass program. This generally allows you to pay $75 per semester, and it is generally added directly to your tuition bill. U of Chicago does not participate, sorry to say.
5. Many people are concerned about crime in a large city like Chicago. When you have identified an apartment that you like, you can always check the neighborhood crime stats at the following websites:
http://www.chicagocrime.org/
http://12.17.79.6/ctznicam/ctznicam.asp
6. Finding an apartment is a challenge, but nowhere near as challenging as in most major US cities. The rents vary depending on neighborhood, as do the amenties and whatnot. Chicago is a pretty dog-friendly city and the rental market is not brutal. Parking, on the other hand, can be very brutal in some neighborhoods. Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park and the Gold Coast will make you rue the day you ever bought a car. But, in these areas, you can find parking arrangements with parking lot comapnies, and if you can afford it, you can generally rent a parking space for $99-200 per month.
Some of the best online resources for finding an apartment:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/apa/
http://classifieds.chicagoreader.com/ch ... n=oid%3A8&
7. This page should give you a general idea of the cost of rent in some of the more popular Chicago neighborhoods:
http://www.apartmentpeople.com/ranges.asp
Incidentally, the Apartment People are a good resource for people looking to live on the North Side - particularly Lakeview, Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park. They will help you find an apartment at no cost to you: http://www.apartmentpeople.com
If you are interested in Bucktown, Wicker Park, UK Village or East Village, I might recommend North Clybourn Group: http://www.northclybourngroup.com/f-forrent.htm
For other North Side neighborhoods, I have heard some good things about the Apartment Guys: http://www.myapartmentguys.com/id77.html
I did all my apartment hunting through craigslist, but then again, I am very familiar with Chicago, so it was easier for me.
