I'm genuinely curious. Coming from Vancouver where rents compared to salaries are considered beyond insane, what I found on Chicago's craigslist seem to be comparable. That is, accounting for exchange rate but not salaries.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?cou...
$1900/mo got me a 2-story townhouse in chicago just south of the south loop; maybe 15 min by train to the heart of the city, 20 min walk to chinatown
Had 3 proper bedrooms and an attic, so with 3 roomates it was more like $450/mo
Reason?
Outdated zoning laws and hotels were slow to catch up with the tourist industry.
It was crazy watching my nearby competitors(the major hotels) adjust prices like the stock market.....
$1800 a night for the last suite at the sheraton up from $250-500 normally. Bonoroo and Country Music festival held the same week is what I called "Second christmas".
2 massive hotels went up downtown and another third is coming online soon.
Sank my new years and March madness profits.... It was a good run.
Then again, canadian salaries are lower and exchange rates are a factor.