Chicago consistently scores as one of the top cities in the U.S. for public transportation, which should come as no surprise for anyone who has spent time in the city. Bus stops are ubiquitous and you can hear an L train buzzing by in any of the major downtown neighborhoods.

Chicago recently placed no. 4 in SmartAsset’s 2017 rankings for cities with leading public transit systems. The analysis is based on average commute time, the popularity of public transit, the percentage of people using transit and income of transit users compared to the general population.

According to the data, Chicago public transit commuters spend an average of 43.6 minutes getting to work each day. Drivers only save about 10 minutes in travel time and are subject to parking fees, gas expenses – not to mention the stress of finding a spot in a bustling metropolis.

Twenty-eight percent of Chicagoans use the CTA. What’s more, the cost for a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) pass is cheaper than passes in similar-sized cities. The unlimited monthly pass is just $100, nearly $17 less than New York City.

Chicago Public Transporation: Quick Facts

  • CTA began operations in 1947
  • 6 million rides on the average weekday
  • Serving Chicago and 35 surrounding suburbs
  • Buses
    • 1,888 buses
    • 130 routes
    • 1,301 miles
    • 18,843 trips/day
    • 10,813 bus stops
  • “L” Trains
    • 1,492 rail cars
    • 8 routes (Red, Purple, Green, Pink, Blue, Orange, Brown, Yellow)
    • 1 miles
    • 2,276 trips/day
    • 145 stations

Source: Chicago Transit Authority

Rent Prices Near Popular L Stops

The L first launched as the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad all the way back in 1892 before the CTA was formed. Currently, Chicago’s L train system is the third largest in the country, helping 800,000 residents reach their destinations every weekday. We are also one of few cities globally with rail services to major airports. The Blue Line goes to O’Hare International Airport and Orange Line trains travel to Midway Airport.

Ditch the roadway traffic by comparing the cost of living near the train. RentHop released a new study this year mapping rent prices near L stations:

To rent a one bedroom apartment in a popular Chicago neighborhood within walking distance of the L, expect to pay around $1,800 to $2,100 per month.

Apartments in Fulton Market near the Clinton stop (Green and Pink) cost $1,849 per month, a drop of 2.8 percent since last year. River North apartments close to Merchandise Mart (Brown and Purple) are also unsurprisingly high at $2,200 per month, which is a similar monthly rate as apartments in Gold Coast near the Grand station (Red).

Other high rent L-friendly areas include the West Loop (Morgan – Green and Pink, UIC-Halsted – Blue), the Loop (Washington/Wells – Brown, Orange, Purple, Pink) and South Loop (Roosevelt – Red). Farther north, Wicker Park one bedroom apartments close to Damen (Blue) run closer to $1,600 per month. Near the Armitage station (Brown and Purple) in Lincoln Park, one-bed rentals cost a similar $1,545 per month.

If you want to limit your rent spend while saving on commuting costs, contact Z Chicago. Our leasing experts will map out apartments for rent in Chicago that make public transportation a breeze – without breaking your total housing budget.