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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.

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.

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.

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.

Let's see. If you want to live on campus, you'll be living in Hyde Park. There are a number of apartment management companies in the area, though the student apartments are fairly priced and tend to be located close to campus. Hype Park is somewhat isolated from the rest of the city, so it doesn't really have the "big city" feel that the neighborhoods on the northside have. Hyde Park is connected to the city via the Red line and Green line trains. Neither are particularly close... you generally take the bus to the train, which will then take you straight downtown. So if you are looking for a neighborhood with a large selection of restaurants, shops and places to hang out, I wouldn't recommend Hyde Park. However, since Hyde Park is pretty far south, if you don't want to commute then I would recommend living on campus. That said Hyde Park around 57th and 53rd Streets does have a nice little assortment of places to eat. There isn't a whole lot to do in HP, in my opinion, but it isn't totally barren either. And the rest of the city is accessible by public transportation. I lived in a different neighborhood before beginning at U of C so I didn't opt to commute since I knew I was only going to be there 2 years.
Hyde Park itself isn't tremendously crime-ridden, though it does have its share of issues. Break-ins seem to a slight problem as of late, but they are taking steps to solve this problem. HP is surrounded by some rough neighborhoods. HP is around the 5500 block. Woodlawn is the next neighborhood over and it's pretty rough. Around the 6300 block it can get pretty rough. Bronzeville and Kenwood are neighborhing hoods as well (around the 4300 block). They are also fairly rough. Most students find that they do not really need to venture into these neighborhoods, so the threat to students is minimal.
Grad student housing at U of C would be my first bet. Most of my friends lived in grad student housing and had good experiences for the most part. If that housing was not available, I would check with the companies listed on this webpage: http://apartments.uchicago.edu/realtors ... elist.html
Parking is somewhat of a nightmare in the residential areas.
If you are looking to live away from Hyde Park, I'd be happy to share info on the northside neighborhoods as well. From where I live, near Wicker Park, it takes me 35 minutes by car and about 70 minutes by train/bus to get to U of C.
 
As a whole, the university and the area immediately surrounding the school is not too problematic. Campus security does routinely patrol the campus and there are the obligatory emergency boxes. The university is bordered by rough neighborhoods but few students have any real need to venture into the areas, so it is generally not a problem. Things do happen in the vicinity of campus, however. Woodlawn has its share of community violence, as do the neighborhoods to the north of the school. But this is generally self-contained and does not really impact the students much. So it is a presence, but not generally a reality that students will encounter as they are communting to and from classes. There have been reports of break-ins and forced entrances into apartments. The best advice is to just be mindful of your surroundings and use the campus buses late at night when commuting. Lock your doors and windows. Walk with friends at night. General tips for living in a big city.
 
It depends on the neighborhood. Chicago is an interesting place that has areas of very high rents and very affordable rents. And sometimes these areas are only blocks apart from each other. In general, there are some neighborhoods that are more expensive: Gold Coast and surrounding hoods, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Bucktown (in parts). UK Village, East Village, Logan Square, Lincoln Square tend to be more affordable. Hyde Park is mixed - there are some expensive places, but a fair number of reasonably priced small apartments and studios. And U of C has very fair grad student apartment prices. If you are considering Chicago and wish to live on campus, I would check into these first. Their rents are quite affordable. I also posted a link above to some rental management companies that generally have pretty fair prices.
It is more expensive living in a city than in a suburban and rural area. Groceries are a bit more costly, but I think this is likely because taxes are higher. Gas prices are pretty high. Commuting is about $75 for an unlimited CTA pass. When I first moved to Chicago, I was able to make it on minimum wage working FT. Course I lived in a rough hood and had a roommate. But I have several friends in my program with me at U of C that have made it work off of part-time employment and their school loans. Students with stipends should fare ok since Chicago is, for a large city, still fairly affordable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Let's see. If you want to live on campus, you'll be living in Hyde Park. There are a number of apartment management companies in the area, though the student apartments are fairly priced and tend to be located close to campus. Hype Park is somewhat isolated from the rest of the city, so it doesn't really have the "big city" feel that the neighborhoods on the northside have. Hyde Park is connected to the city via the Red line and Green line trains. Neither are particularly close... you generally take the bus to the train, which will then take you straight downtown. So if you are looking for a neighborhood with a large selection of restaurants, shops and places to hang out, I wouldn't recommend Hyde Park. However, since Hyde Park is pretty far south, if you don't want to commute then I would recommend living on campus. That said Hyde Park around 57th and 53rd Streets does have a nice little assortment of places to eat. There isn't a whole lot to do in HP, in my opinion, but it isn't totally barren either. And the rest of the city is accessible by public transportation. I lived in a different neighborhood before beginning at U of C so I didn't opt to commute since I knew I was only going to be there 2 years.
Hyde Park itself isn't tremendously crime-ridden, though it does have its share of issues. Break-ins seem to a slight problem as of late, but they are taking steps to solve this problem. HP is surrounded by some rough neighborhoods. HP is around the 5500 block. Woodlawn is the next neighborhood over and it's pretty rough. Around the 6300 block it can get pretty rough. Bronzeville and Kenwood are neighborhing hoods as well (around the 4300 block). They are also fairly rough. Most students find that they do not really need to venture into these neighborhoods, so the threat to students is minimal.
Grad student housing at U of C would be my first bet. Most of my friends lived in grad student housing and had good experiences for the most part. If that housing was not available, I would check with the companies listed on this webpage: http://apartments.uchicago.edu/realtors ... elist.html
Parking is somewhat of a nightmare in the residential areas.
If you are looking to live away from Hyde Park, I'd be happy to share info on the northside neighborhoods as well. From where I live, near Wicker Park, it takes me 35 minutes by car and about 70 minutes by train/bus to get to U of C.
 
As a whole, the university and the area immediately surrounding the school is not too problematic. Campus security does routinely patrol the campus and there are the obligatory emergency boxes. The university is bordered by rough neighborhoods but few students have any real need to venture into the areas, so it is generally not a problem. Things do happen in the vicinity of campus, however. Woodlawn has its share of community violence, as do the neighborhoods to the north of the school. But this is generally self-contained and does not really impact the students much. So it is a presence, but not generally a reality that students will encounter as they are communting to and from classes. There have been reports of break-ins and forced entrances into apartments. The best advice is to just be mindful of your surroundings and use the campus buses late at night when commuting. Lock your doors and windows. Walk with friends at night. General tips for living in a big city.
 
It depends on the neighborhood. Chicago is an interesting place that has areas of very high rents and very affordable rents. And sometimes these areas are only blocks apart from each other. In general, there are some neighborhoods that are more expensive: Gold Coast and surrounding hoods, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Bucktown (in parts). UK Village, East Village, Logan Square, Lincoln Square tend to be more affordable. Hyde Park is mixed - there are some expensive places, but a fair number of reasonably priced small apartments and studios. And U of C has very fair grad student apartment prices. If you are considering Chicago and wish to live on campus, I would check into these first. Their rents are quite affordable. I also posted a link above to some rental management companies that generally have pretty fair prices.
It is more expensive living in a city than in a suburban and rural area. Groceries are a bit more costly, but I think this is likely because taxes are higher. Gas prices are pretty high. Commuting is about $75 for an unlimited CTA pass. When I first moved to Chicago, I was able to make it on minimum wage working FT. Course I lived in a rough hood and had a roommate. But I have several friends in my program with me at U of C that have made it work off of part-time employment and their school loans. Students with stipends should fare ok since Chicago is, for a large city, still fairly affordable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.