You don’t need a rapidly growing bank account to have fun. ChicagoThe cultural coolness of. Accommodation will cost you, but the many free things to do, discount ticket schemes, and the relatively low cost of food and transport help keep overall costs under control.
Here are our top tips for stretching your dollars in the Windy City.
Find out which Chicago airport is the cheapest to fly into.
Chicago has two airports: O’Hare and Midway. Budget airlines fly into both, and transportation costs to downtown are similar, though Midway is slightly cheaper because it’s a few miles closer. In general, budget airlines Spirit and JetBlue fly to O’Hare, Southwest and Allegiant fly to Midway, and Frontier flies to both. O’Hare is also a hub for United and American Airlines, and they often have low-cost flights to the city.
Take the L train from the airport.
Both airports have easy connections to the city center by public transportation – particularly the L train – which costs about $5 and 40 minutes from O’Hare and about $3 and 30 minutes from Midway. It seems
O’Hare has its own Blue Line station, while Midway has its own Orange Line station. Trains depart from both every 10 minutes or so. This option is much cheaper than taxis, Uber or Lyft, which can cost up to 10 times as much and take nearly as long given Chicago’s heavy traffic.
Use Chicago’s public transit system to get around.
Parking costs will quickly drain your budget. Downtown street meters charge about $7 an hour, garages average about $40 a day. Plus, driving in a city full of traffic is crazy – public transit is the way to go.
Chicago’s L train system has eight color-coded lines that take you to most destinations and neighborhoods. Buses pick up the slack in areas that miss the L.
Ready for a bargain? one Unlimited Ride Day Pass Cost $5, valid on all trains and buses. Buy it at any L station (including airports) or through Bailey app. You can also buy rechargeable ones. Ventra Cardwhich saves about $0.50 per ride on disposable fare tickets for one-way rides.
Get on the water taxi.
of Chicago Architectural boat tours are extremely popular, and no wonder. It’s great to walk along the river and stare at the skyscrapers. But if you can’t afford to drop more than $50 on a guided tour, don’t worry. gave Chicago Water Taxi Pleas from the river and charge about $10 for a day’s passage.
Boats travel from the Michigan Avenue Bridge to Madison Street and on to Chinatown, so you’ll still have a hair-your-wind experience.
Visit in spring or fall to save money.
Summer (June through August) is Chicago’s peak season, when lodging is typically more expensive. Winter (December to March) is the cheapest time to go, but the cold and snow are not very inviting. Spring and fall are the shoulder seasons when sweet deals and decent weather come together.
Consider staying in a hostel.
There are a number of quality hostels in Chicago. dignified HI-Chicago Right in the center of the city. Wrigley Hostel Parties near North Side Baseball Park, and Chicago Gateway Hostel The good-time Lincoln Park neighborhood has been hosting travelers for years.
during this, Freehand Chicago, Found a hotel And Selena Chicago There are bar-filled, hostel-hotel hybrids that have recently opened on the city’s northern edge.
7-Day Winter Trips from Chicago
Look for housing outside the core.
Move away from the Loop, Near North, Gold Coast and West Loop—Chicago’s hotel-filled central districts—and prices drop. Try neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Lakeview, both just north of downtown and full of bars and restaurants, and Wicker Park, northwest of downtown, close to nightlife and shops.
Cooler areas that are even cheaper include Logan Square, Pilsen, Ukrainian Village and Andersonville. Most accommodation in these remote districts is apartment rentals, so you can save extra money by catering some of your own meals. Proximity to the L station is important, however, so check before booking.
Browse through the market
From May to October, farmers’ markets pop up all over the city and offer cheap eats. Green City Market Lincoln Park offers the largest spread on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from pies to pickles to pasta. gave Logan Square Market Sundays add live music to fruits, vegetables and prepared foods. In the city center Daily Plaza Thursdays burst into fresh produce and Amish baked goods.
And while it’s more of a flea market than a farmer’s market, on Sundays Maxwell Street Market It’s become a hot spot for foodies looking for homemade churros, tamales and other Mexican fare.
Best Healthy Eating Places in Chicago
Browse for cheap eats in Pilsen, Chinatown, Uptown and Humboldt Park.
Many neighborhoods are especially great for cheap eats, with plenty of high-quality cafes and mom-and-pop restaurants to choose from within walking distance of each other. Along 18th Street in Pilsen, Mexican bakeries and taquerias mingle with hipster coffee shops and barbecue joints. Chinatown along Wentworth Avenue offers a smorgasbord of tart-filled bakeries and dim sum spots.
Uptown along Argyll Street, Thai and Vietnamese noodle houses steam up the corridor known as “Little Saigon.” And in Humboldt Park along Division Street, homey spots serve strong coffee, roast pork, spicy rice and other Puerto Rican specialties.
Find a food truck.
Chicago has a relatively small fleet of food trucks, but the ones that do roll in offer lip-smacking tacos, Vietnamese sandwiches, soul food and more at modest prices. They typically head to office worker-rich zones like the Loop and Near North around lunchtime, and then to nightlife-focused Wicker Park and Lakeview in the evening.
On Fridays in the summer, the trucks gather in Dealey Plaza during lunch. Check. Street Food Finder For locations
Best things to do in Chicago
Buy discount passes to save on attractions.
There are some options that can save 30% or more on admission fees. City Pass Provides access to five of the city’s top draws, incl Art Institute, Shed Aquarium And Willis Tower Sky DeckMore than nine consecutive days.
gave Go to Chicago Offers some 25 destinations, including all museums (except the Art Institute) and various bus and boat tours. You pay a flat fee for one, two, three or five consecutive days, and visit as many attractions as you want during that time frame.
Check out Hot Tix for cheap theater tickets.
Hot Tux Sells same-week theater tickets at half price. There are seats in drama, comedy and performing arts venues across the city, including big-name venues such as Lyric opera And Steppenwolf Theatre. Book online or in person at the Hot Tix outlets downtown at 72 E Randolph Street and 108 N State Street. The earlier in the week you visit, the better the selection.
Know your baseball options.
Chicago has two pro baseball teams. gave Children Play on the north side of town at the historical site Wrigley Field, which is charming with its handmade scoreboard, neon entrance sign and other old-timey bits. gave The White Sox Play at Guaranteed Rate Field, a state-of-the-art ballpark on the south side of town.
Tickets to a Cubs game are usually very expensive, although upper reserved infield seats can be modestly priced. They are superior but have good ideas. For the White Sox, Sunday and Monday tickets usually offer the best deals.
Take advantage of free things to do.
There are tons of places and activities in Chicago that are 100% free.. You won’t pay a dime to hear summer concerts. Millennium ParkCheck out the amazing art exhibitions at Chicago Cultural CenterBut wave the animals. Lincoln Park Zoosmell the flowers. Garfield Park ConservatoryVisit the city with Greater Chicago and much more.
Daily expenses in Chicago
- Dorm room: $35-55 (dormitory bed)
- Basic room for two: $150-275
- Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): $80-175
- Public transport tickets: $5 day pass
- Coffee: $3
- Hot dogs: $4-5
- Dinner for two: $30-60
- Pint of microbrew at the bar: $7-8
This article was first published on May 26, 2022 and was updated on July 27, 2023.