Same here, I have an apt which is 30 min commute from downtown chicago and pay highly for it. But to me it's worth it over having a very long commute or finding a different job. Opportunities outside of the city are much more limited.
You didn't have to go further than that. Suburbs to me only make sense once you have kids. I'm planning on moving back to chicago this summer and my girlfriend and I are looking to move to a triplex (currently looking at around ukrainian village/wicker park, maybe lincoln park) for a few years until we have kids and then i still might put it off until we have a 3rd or one kid reaches kindergarten age.