What are safety and crime like in Chicago, Illinois?

If you are moving to Chicago, the neighborhoods are very distinct from one another in lifestyle, cost of living, safety, and access to amenities. As for crime, the majority is concentrated in a few areas, but like any other city, be cautious about your surroundings and listen to your gut. Most Chicagoans are happy to help strangers and will happily give directions or recommendations. The best sources for cheap but good groceries are Aldi and Trader Joe’s.

Different neighborhoods are VASTLY different. One may have a shooting a week, another will have none for decades. Culture and diversity are the most you will find anywhere, but the local politics and fraud are off-putting. You can find anything here.

Living downtown, it is very easy to get around Chicago without a car. The CTA transit system, and the Metra lines, are wonderful alternatives to wasteful cars. Gas is very expensive in Cook County, as well. It is important to research the area or neighborhood in which you would like. Some areas are more dangerous than others.

Someone moving to Chicago should know how expensive it is to live here. If you want to live in an area with a low crime rate, expect to pay upwards of $2000-$3000 a month for just a studio apartment let alone a three or four bedroom. In some cases, even neighborhoods with high crime rates are expensive to live in due to its location in relation to public transportation to downtowns.