What $700 a month actually rents in Chicago right now
A 2-bedroom apartment for $700 or less in Chicago exists, but not in the neighborhoods where most rental listings cluster. You will find units at this price in South Side and West Side neighborhoods — Englewood, Washington Park, Garfield Park, Chatham, and parts of Bronzeville — where vacancy is higher and older buildings dominate the market. These are real apartments in real buildings, not scams, but they require direct landlord contact rather than major listing sites, because small landlords often do not post on Zillow or Apartments.com.
The median rent for a 2-bedroom in Chicago is roughly $1,400 to $1,600 depending on the neighborhood. Finding a unit at $700 means accepting either an older building with fewer amenities, a neighborhood farther from downtown, or both. Some units at this price point are in buildings with deferred maintenance — meaning the roof may leak, the heat may be unreliable, or the plumbing may be slow. That does not make them illegal to rent, but it means you should inspect carefully and document the condition before you sign.
Key Takeaways
- Two-bedroom apartments under $700 exist primarily on Chicago's South and West Sides, in neighborhoods like Englewood, Garfield Park, and Chatham.
- Small landlords who rent at this price often advertise through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or neighborhood bulletin boards rather than major listing sites.
- Chicago's Residential Tenants' Ordinance protects you regardless of rent price — landlords must provide habitable conditions, heat, and hot water even in older buildings.
- Before signing, photograph the unit's condition, test all utilities, and ask the landlord for a written lease that lists what is included and what repairs they will make.
- If you receive rental information through a city or county program, confirm the landlord will accept the payment method before you explore.
Where to search for units under $700
Craigslist remains the most direct source for sub-$700 rentals in Chicago, because landlords posting there often own one to five buildings and do not use property management companies. Search by neighborhood name and price range, then contact the landlord directly by phone or email. Be prepared to move quickly — units at this price rent within days, not weeks.
Facebook Marketplace has grown as a rental listing platform in Chicago. Search "2 bedroom apartment Chicago" and filter by price, then message the poster. Ask for their phone number rather than conducting the entire conversation through Facebook — you need to hear their voice and confirm they are a real person before you visit.
Neighborhood bulletin boards, community centers, and local churches often post rentals that never appear online. Call your alderman's office or the local housing authority and ask if they maintain a list of available units. Some community organizations in South and West Side neighborhoods maintain rental boards specifically for residents seeking affordable housing.
Avoid any listing that asks you to pay a deposit before viewing the unit in person. Legitimate landlords will show you the apartment, let you inspect it, and only then ask for a deposit. If a listing seems too good to be true — a luxury building at $700 — it is a scam.
What your lease should include and what it should not
A legal lease in Chicago must be in writing and must state the rent amount, the lease term (usually 12 months), the move-in date, and the landlord's name and address. It should list what utilities are included — heat, water, trash — and what you pay separately. If the landlord promises to make repairs before you move in, those promises should be written into the lease, not just spoken.
The lease should not include a clause that waives your right to a habitable apartment, requires you to waive your right to sue for repairs, or makes you responsible for structural damage. Chicago law voids these clauses even if you sign them. Do not sign a lease that requires you to pay for repairs that are the landlord's responsibility — roof leaks, foundation cracks, broken heating systems, or pest infestations are landlord costs, not tenant costs.
Ask the landlord for a move-in inspection form. Walk through the unit together, photograph or video any damage, and both sign the form. This protects you when you move out, because the landlord cannot later claim you caused damage that existed when you arrived. If the landlord refuses to do a move-in inspection, photograph everything yourself and email the photos to the landlord with a timestamp.
Understanding Chicago's tenant protections at any rent price
Chicago's Residential Tenants' Ordinance applies to every rental unit in the city, regardless of how much rent you pay. Your landlord must provide a habitable apartment, which means the roof cannot leak into your bedroom, the heat must reach 68 degrees by 6 a.m. and stay there until 10 p.m. during winter, and hot water must be available 24 hours a day. These are not optional — they are legal requirements.
If your landlord fails to provide heat, hot water, or repairs needed for habitability, you have the right to withhold rent, repair-and-deduct (pay for the repair yourself and deduct it from rent), or break the lease without penalty. You also have the right to call the city's Department of Buildings to report code violations. The city will inspect for free, and if violations are found, the landlord must fix them or face fines.
Your landlord cannot evict you for reporting violations to the city, for joining a tenant organization, or for asserting your legal rights. If your landlord retaliates — raises your rent, decreases services, or files for eviction within six months of you reporting a violation — that retaliation is illegal and you can sue.
Deposits, fees, and what you should pay upfront
In Chicago, a landlord can charge a security deposit equal to one month's rent. At $700 a month, that is $700. The landlord must hold this deposit in an interest-bearing account and return it within 30 to 45 days after you move out, minus any legitimate deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear. The landlord must provide an itemized list of deductions — not just a number.
A landlord cannot charge a non-refundable fee for anything except a pet. Do not pay a "cleaning fee," "process fee," "administrative fee," or "move-in fee" unless it is explicitly labeled as non-refundable and the lease states why. Many of these fees are illegal under Chicago law.
When you move in, you should pay first month's rent and the security deposit. That is it. If a landlord asks for last month's rent upfront, that is legal but unusual at this price point — ask why. If a landlord asks for money before you have signed a lease and seen the unit, do not send it.
If you are receiving rental information
If you are using a city, county, or nonprofit rental information program to help pay rent, tell the landlord before you sign the lease. Some landlords will not accept information payments because they distrust the process or because the payment method is unfamiliar. It is better to know this before you commit to the apartment.
Ask the landlord: "Will you accept a payment from [name of program]?" Get their answer in writing, or at minimum in an email or text message. If they say yes, ask them what information they need from the program — usually a landlord authorization form and proof of the payment amount.
Most information programs pay the landlord directly by check or ACH transfer. The payment usually arrives within two to six weeks of approval. Tell your landlord this timeline upfront so they understand there will be a gap between when you are approved and when they receive the money. Some landlords will agree to hold off on late fees during this waiting period if you show them the approval letter.
Red flags and how to protect yourself
Do not wire money, send a gift card, or use a payment app like Venmo or CashApp to pay a deposit or rent. These payments cannot be reversed if the landlord disappears. Use a check, money order, or ACH transfer — all of which create a paper trail.
Do not rent from someone who will not meet you in person at the apartment. Video tours are fine for a first look, but you must see the unit and the neighborhood before you commit money. If a landlord insists on a deposit before you visit, that is a scam.
Do not sign a lease with blank spaces. Every number — rent amount, deposit amount, lease term — must be filled in before you sign. Do not initial or sign anything you do not understand. Ask the landlord to explain any clause you are unsure about, and if their explanation does not match the written lease, do not sign.
If you find a listing on Craigslist or Facebook that looks legitimate, reverse-image search the photos using Google Images. If the same photos appear in listings in other cities or under different landlord names, it is a scam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landlord refuse to rent to me because of my income or credit score?
A landlord can consider income and credit as part of their decision, but they cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status. If you have poor credit or low income, ask if the landlord will accept a co-signer or a larger deposit instead. Some landlords at this price point do not run credit checks at all.
What should I do if the landlord asks me to pay cash and not report it as income?
Do not do this. Paying cash with no receipt leaves you with no proof of payment if the landlord later claims you did not pay. It also makes it harder for you to document your housing costs if you later need rental information. Always get a receipt, even if you pay in cash.
Can my landlord evict me without going to court?
No. In Illinois, a landlord must file a case in court and get a judgment before they can evict you. They cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities. If your landlord tries any of these, call the police and report an illegal lockout.
What if the apartment has bed bugs or roaches when I move in?
Pest infestations are a habitability violation. Document the infestation with photos or video, email them to the landlord, and request treatment in writing. If the landlord does not treat within a reasonable time (usually 7 to 10 days), you can call the city's Department of Buildings to report it. You may also be able to break the lease or withhold rent.
How do I know if a neighborhood is safe?
Visit the neighborhood at different times of day — morning, afternoon, and evening. Walk around, talk to people at local businesses, and check the Chicago Police Department's crime statistics by district online. Ask the landlord and current tenants about safety. No neighborhood is perfect, but you should feel reasonably comfortable walking to the bus stop or store.