from AZ to Chicago - seeking assistance (Washington, Rome: cheap apartments, job market)

[patton137]

I'm looking for a place in Chicago:

a) with cheap apartments ($300 - $500 / month)
b) that's safe, reasonably safe, or safer than most areas
c) access to the metro (for commuting to work)

I am 26 year old, half-Asian half Caucasian, with four years of college, experience in food service, enjoys walking big cities (explored Rome and other cities in Italy and part of Washington, D.C. and New York), loves architecture (would visit some old architecture, such as cathedrals -aren't they grand?!), and wouldn't mind trying to pick up Italian from Italian speaking people in Chicago.

I'm smart, hard-working, and can well I think in any job. If you're looking for someone with prior food service experience (cooking, serving, bussing) or with + 4 years of college, B.A. in theology (theology, + history, + philosophy), please also give me a reply and maybe we can discuss a mutual business venture, via phone or in person.

[A2DAC1985]

Originally Posted by patton137

I'm looking for a place in Chicago:

a) with cheap apartments ($300 - $500 / month)
b) that's safe, reasonably safe, or safer than most areas
c) access to the metro (for commuting to work)...

I'm smart, hard-working, and can well I think in any job. If you're looking for someone with prior food service experience (cooking, serving, bussing)...

If I'm off base with this, someone let me know (I haven't lived here long).

I think, maybe, maybe that could be done if you happen to find two other people willing to live with you (and vice versa). And it probably won't be as spacious as what, I'm assuming, you would consider "cramped" to be coming from Arizona. If you could bump your price range up, and still have a roomate or two, then you could also fulfill B and C as well.

Finding a job in food service, I would suspect, is not that hard given the large number of restaurants just in the city.

Good luck.

[ChikidII]

Originally Posted by A2DAC1985

If I'm off base with this, someone let me know (I haven't lived here long).

I think, maybe, maybe that could be done if you happen to find two other people willing to live with you (and vice versa). And it probably won't be as spacious as what, I'm assuming, you would consider "cramped" to be coming from Arizona. If you could bump your price range up, and still have a roomate or two, then you could also fulfill B and C as well.

Finding a job in food service, I would suspect, is not that hard given the large number of restaurants just in the city.

Good luck.

On your own $300-$500 is going to be tough, but not impossible. Finding a studio between $400-$500 is very possible. Finding something below $300, very tough. Now, if you get a roommate, you can definitely find places where you would paying $300 or even somewhat less.

[Payne222]

Originally Posted by patton137

and wouldn't mind trying to pick up Italian from Italian speaking people in Chicago.

The people of Chicago generally speak 1 of 3 languages: English, Polish or Spanish. Italian is used only in families now really. And if they've even passed it down.

[A2DAC1985]

Originally Posted by ChikidII

On your own $300-$500 is going to be tough, but not impossible. Finding a studio between $400-$500 is very possible. Finding something below $300, very tough. Now, if you get a roommate, you can definitely find places where you would paying $300 or even somewhat less.

True, but even then would a price of $400 in a studio alone satisfy his B and C demands?

Like I said, I'm new here, but I didn't think there was ANYWHERE inside the city where $500 could get you more than 300 square feet (if that), a "Not THEE Sketchiest Place in the City" award, and close to a CTA station.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by A2DAC1985

True, but even then would a price of $400 in a studio alone satisfy his B and C demands?

Like I said, I'm new here, but I didn't think there was ANYWHERE inside the city where $500 could get you more than 300 square feet (if that), a "Not THEE Sketchiest Place in the City" award, and close to a CTA station.

Right, at least one roommate will be required.

[j_cat]

I live in what is quite possibly the cheapest studio in LP, and it is still quite a bit more than that. That price range would relegate you to the burbs and probably not even the nice ones. Your choices would pretty much be nice exurb, crappy suburb or ghetto. It would help if you found a roommate situation, but even then...

That being said, Chicago is pretty cheap, as far as big, dense, cosmopolitan cities go.

I'm from AZ too and I've really enjoyed the change of pace. Chicagoans tend to be very familiar with AZ, but perplexed as to why one would move from there to here, lol.

There are obviously tons of jobs here, but I feel like the job market is really hard to break into. It seems to require a ton of knowledge and savvy about "how Chicago works," and I think it just takes time to really get that.

Basically, compared to east or west coast cities, Chicago is a bit off the radar, which is both a blessing and a curse.

It's a blessing because this town is not afflicted with the whole trendy-competitive-touristy-aggressive "important" mentality (for lack of a more succinct description), it's a bit more low-key than all of that.

But it's a curse because people are a bit set in their ways, and not exactly embracing of newcomers. You'll quickly notice that almost everyone is either local or from somewhere in the Midwest, and you'd better learn how to blend in with that.