Stipend enough for Chicago?

[itsamiracle]

I have been accepted to two schools in Chicago. One is offering me a stipend of 23K, the other is 18K. I prefer the program and school that is giving me 18K. However, I am concerned that it may not be enough to support a year in a large city like Chicago. Can anyone give me insight to the cost of living in the area and if 18K is enough? Thanks in advance.

[liszt85]

If you are need to support just yourself on that stipend, 18K should be fine from whatever research I'd done. I am planning to support my wife too on a similar stipend.. it'll get very tight. For a single person however, 18K should be enough to lead a simple life.

[itsamiracle]

Good to know. I was panicking a little bit after learning that the sales tax in chicago is something around 10%. I've been working for the past three years and not saving as much as I would've liked.

[adaptations]

The short answer, yes you can definitely live on it. I am at Chicago and my opinion is that 18K is workable. You are on the extreme graduate student budget, but everyone here seems to get by. Good luck!

[frankdux]

you can always get an apartment in the suburbs off of the metra line. a bit cheaper, safer, and cleaner.

i dont know what schools you are exactly referring to, but the University of Chicago is in a less than stellar neighborhood. and UIC is a few blocks away from a horrible neighborhood as well.

[itsamiracle]

Yes!! Things just got better. My preferred program upped the stipend offer to 20K. That, with your feedback, makes me a lot more comfortable with my future life (or lack of) in Chicago.

[liszt85]

Yes!! Things just got better. My preferred program upped the stipend offer to 20K. That, with your feedback, makes me a lot more comfortable with my future life (or lack of) in Chicago.

Hey, how did you get them to do that? I'm in a fix as I have to support my wife too on just this stipend (around $1500pm after taxes). That is going to be a real tight budget that we're going to live on unless I get some additional cash.. and this amount seems like their standard offer and I don't know if I should/can ask them if it can be raised (I'm awaiting a funding decision from OSU and a possible offer from McMaster) if one of the other places offer better funding (wrt living expenses in the respective city)..

[itsamiracle]

I think I just got lucky. They had suggested the chance for funding to increase, but I honestly didn't take it to heart (afraid of being let down). When I made travel arrangements to visit, they informed me of the increase. I wish it was always this easy for everyone.