
Cheap Short Term Lease Apartments for Rent in Chicago, IL from $400 (148 Rentals)
Rental terms in Chicago as short as a month! Perfect when you can't commit to a full year of renting.
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in Chicago.


5540 Hyde Park by 3L Living

5748 Blackstone By 3L Living

Scholars Corner Apartments

The Max Apartments

Plaisance Apartments

Chatham Grove

Woodlawn House Apartments

The Versailles Apartments

5401 Cornell by 3L Living
Chicago's Best Affordable Neighborhoods
Learn about Chicago and the best places to live with original content written by our Chicago, IL Local Expert Nicole Harms

Museum Walk Apartments

The Victorian Apartments

2Sisters Apartments

Campus Court Apartments

4721 S. Ellis Avenue

The Vivian

5528-5532 S. Everett Avenue

Midpointe

The Flamingo Apartments

Woodlawn Terrace

5500 S. Cornell Avenue

The Rosie

1000M

Wyndham Apartments

Alef Park

5120 S. Hyde Park Boulevard

The Trilogy at Hyde Park

Park View Apartments

Gramercy Row Apartments

Drexel Grand

Beachwalk Apartments

Madison Park Apartments

5337 S. Hyde Park Boulevard

Park Wellington Apartments

The Sutherland

5405-5407 S. Woodlawn Avenue

14 West Elm Apartments

GreenGlen Park

Times Square Apartments

Algonquin Apartments

5457-5459 S. Blackstone Avenue

21st Street Lofts by 3L Living

Marine Terrace Apartments

Maple Court

Reside on Clarendon

5320-5326.5 S. Drexel Boulevard

5474-5480 S. Hyde Park Boulevard

505 W Melrose Street
Chicago, IL Local Guide

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Chicago?
Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
---|---|---|---|
Chicago Studio Apartments | $2,134 | $532 | $10,000+ |
Chicago 1 Bedroom Apartments | $2,683 | $750 | $10,000+ |
Chicago 2 Bedroom Apartments | $3,385 | $900 | $10,000+ |
Chicago 3 Bedroom Apartments | $3,958 | $1,049 | $10,000+ |
Chicago 4 Bedroom Apartments | $3,000 | $996 | $10,000+ |
Chicago 5 Bedroom Apartments | $4,159 | $1,500 | $6,200 |
Explore Chicago
Chicago, IL Local Guide
- Chicago Neighborhoods
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Quick Rent Budget Calculator
How much rent can you afford?
The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.
Getting Around Chicago, IL
Walk Score®
83 / 100
Very Walkable
Most errands can be accomplished on foot
Bike Score®
77 / 100
Very Bikeable
Biking is convenient for most trips
Transit Score®
66 / 100
Good Transit
Many nearby public transportation options
What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?
- Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
- Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
- Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Chicago Apartments
What is a cheap apartment in Chicago?
A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Chicago is under $795.
What is the price of a cheap apartment in Chicago?
The cheapest apartment in Chicago is 1155 W 83rd St which is listed at $750, while the average apartment in Chicago costs $3,071.
What types of apartments are the cheapest in Chicago?
Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 33,681 regular apartments in Chicago that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.
How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Chicago?
Cheap apartments in Chicago have an average cost of $415 which is $2,656 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Chicago.
Expert Rental Resources
Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips
The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

A Local Expert’s Guide To 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent in Chicago
Written by: Nicole Harms
I’m Nicole, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Chicago, IL. As a resident of the Chicago area for over 20 years, I’ve learned which neighborhoods are great and which are best avoided.

Battling the Butts: Your Guide to the Reality of Smoke-Free Renting
Written by: Andrea Lee Negroni, JD
While many apartment buildings are “no smoking” properties, it’s hard to know exactly how many. In 2017, the National Apartment Association reported more than half of rental properties had smoke free policies.

Understanding Amenity Fees: Know Where You Might Be Able to Save Money
Written by: Amber Kanuckel
With the rising costs of housing, a lot of renters are asking this question: Is it possible to opt out of various amenities that your rental property offers so that you can avoid paying the fees.

How Your Move-In Inspection Can Protect Your Security Deposit
Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.
If you’re anything like most people, housing costs represent a huge chunk of your monthly budget. On top of that, moving can be both a stressful and expensive affair.