Essentials
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, BMO Harris.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (sourced from Lake Michigan)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon (eSIM via Airalo or Holafly recommended)
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, Chase (requires SSN/ITIN for full accounts)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Blueground, Landing (furnished long-term)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Sonder, Blueground (approx. $2,500 - $4,500/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- HI Chicago Hostel ($40-60/night), Freehand Chicago ($120/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Loop, River North (near Magnificent Mile)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Logan Square, West Loop, Wicker Park (community-focused)
- Population
- 2,746,000
- Internet Speed
- Avg. 150-300 Mbps (Xfinity, AT&T Fiber)
- City
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Industrious (West Loop/Wicker Park) - $450/month; WeWork ($300/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Wormhole Coffee (Wicker Park), Sawada Coffee (West Loop)
- Networking Events
- Chicago TechEvents, 1871 (Startups), Built In Chicago
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Chicago, Meetup.com (Chicago Digital Nomads Group)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft (Widely available)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Divvy Bikes ($18/day pass or $143/annual)
- Best Beach Nearby
- North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach (on Lake Michigan)
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines (Midway International Airport)
- Top International Airline
- United Airlines, American Airlines (O'Hare Hub)
- Highway Access
- I-90 (Kennedy), I-94 (Dan Ryan), I-290 (Eisenhower)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Union Station (Amtrak/Metra), Ogilvie Transportation Center
- Public Transport Passes
- CTA Ventra Card ($5/day, $20/7-day, $75/30-day)
- Regional Travel
- Metra Trains (suburbs), Amtrak (Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital, UChicago Medicine
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- CorePower Yoga, Zen Yoga Garage ($25-30/class)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- East Bank Club ($200+/month), Planet Fitness ($10-25/month)
- Laundry Services
- Bubble (App-based), Tide Cleaners ($2-4 per lb)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, Grubhub (founded in Chicago), UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Deep Dish Pizza (Lou Malnati's), Italian Beef (Al's Beef)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Chicago Diner (Logan Square), Bloom Plant Based Kitchen
- Best Dessert Spots
- Molly's Cupcakes, Margie's Candies, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi, Trader Joe's, Maxwell Street Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon, Walmart.com, Target.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Whole Foods via Amazon Prime
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- River North (Upscale), Logan Square (Cocktails), Wrigleyville (Sports)
- Local Brewery
- Goose Island Brewhouse, Revolution Brewing, Half Acre
- Wine Bars
- Webster’s Wine Bar, Rootstock Wine & Beer
- Street Food Stalls
- Pilsen (Tacos), French Market (Metra Market)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ghiaia (Italian), Au Cheval (Burgers), Duck Duck Goat (Chinese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Millennium Park (The Bean), Willis Tower Skydeck
- Museums & Art Venues
- Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, MCA Chicago
- Historical Sites
- Water Tower, Pullman National Historical Park
- Religious Sites
- Holy Name Cathedral, Bahá'í House of Worship (Wilmette)
- Annual Events
- Lollapalooza (August), Chicago Jazz Festival (Labor Day)
- Cultural Districts
- Pilsen (Latino), Chinatown, Andersonville (Swedish)
- Theater Venues
- The Second City (Comedy), Steppenwolf, Chicago Theatre
- Local Markets
- Green City Market, Randolph Street Market
- Music Scene
- Green Mill (Jazz), Kingston Mines (Blues), Empty Bottle (Indie)
- Street Art
- Wicker Park Murals, Pilsen Mural Walk
- Cooking Classes
- The Chopping Block ($80-120/class)
- Art Galleries
- Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Monique Meloche
- Historic Buildings
- Chicago Board of Trade, Rookery Building, Tribune Tower
- Local Heritage
- The Chicago Flag (4 red stars, 3 white stripes)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- The 606 Trail, Humboldt Park, Morton Arboretum
- National Parks Nearby
- Indiana Dunes National Park (1 hour drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lakefront Trail (18 miles along Lake Michigan)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Adler Planetarium Skyline Walk, 360 CHICAGO
- Birdwatching Locations
- Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Promontory Point (requires permit)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, USPS
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Michigan Avenue, Chicago Computer Classes
- Table Tennis Spots
- SPIN Chicago (River North)
- Language Classes
- Instituto Cervantes, Alliance Française
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Harold Washington Library Center
- Community Centers
- Old Town School of Folk Music
- Gaming Lounges
- Ignite Gaming Lounge
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Bally's Chicago (Temporary site at Medinah Temple)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $220,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $128,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $312,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $168,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $384,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $200,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 9.5% (Federal 21% + Illinois 7% + 2.5% replacement tax)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Variable based on tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Taxation of worldwide income for US citizens/residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 4.95% (Illinois Flat Rate)
- VAT
- Sales Tax: 10.25% in Chicago
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Subpart F and GILTI rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Cook County rate (Approx. 2.1% of value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 0.75% State/County + Chicago transfer tax ($3.75 per $500)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No (High tax burden compared to international hubs)