The True Cost of Moving Into a Chicago Apartment

TL;DR Moving into a Chicago apartment costs more than first month's rent. Budget for a non-refundable move-in fee ($425 to $700), an application fee ($50 to $75 per adult), an admin fee, and movers. On a $2,200 one-bedroom, plan on roughly $2,900 to $3,000 in cash at signing, before the movers.

The rent is the number everyone focuses on, but the cash you actually need on day one is bigger. Here is the honest, line-by-line cost of moving into a Chicago apartment in 2026, with a worked example so there are no surprises.

The upfront fees

A few charges show up at or before signing. Here is what each typically runs.

Move-in fee or security deposit. Most managed Chicago buildings now charge a non-refundable move-in fee, usually $425 to $700, instead of a refundable security deposit (which, when used, is typically one month's rent). We compare the two in detail in our move-in fee vs security deposit guide.

First month's rent. Due at or before move-in, essentially always. Some smaller landlords also ask for last month's rent up front, though that is less common in big managed buildings.

Application fee. Typically $50 to $75 per adult, non-refundable even if you are not approved. Two adults means roughly $100 to $150.

Admin fee. A one-time lease-processing charge, commonly $50 to $200, often on top of the application fee.

Amenity, pet, and parking fees. Some buildings add a one-time amenity fee or a monthly one. A pet usually means a one-time fee plus monthly pet rent, and parking is typically billed separately.

A worked example

Numbers make it real. Here is the cash to move into a $2,200 one-bedroom as a single renter with no pet.

Line item	Amount
First month's rent	$2,200
Move-in fee (non-refundable)	$500
Application fee (1 adult)	$60
Admin fee	$150
Cash at signing	~$2,910

So a no-frills move-in on a $2,200 unit is roughly $2,900 to $3,000 before you have hired a single mover.

A few variations to plan for. If the building uses a refundable deposit instead of a fee, the upfront number jumps to around $4,600 (but about $2,200 of that is recoverable). Add a pet and budget roughly $435 more. Add parking and that is another $100 to $300 for the first month.

The cost of the move itself

Then there is actually moving your stuff.

Hiring local movers for a one-bedroom commonly runs $400 to $900 for a few hours of labor, while a DIY truck rental usually lands between $150 and $400 once you count fuel and supplies.

One Chicago-specific wrinkle: most downtown high-rises require you to reserve the freight elevator in advance (a fee of about $75 to $150) and require your moving company to carry a certificate of insurance. Because DIY movers often cannot provide that certificate, a lot of high-rise renters end up hiring licensed movers even for a small place. Ask the building about its move-in rules before you book anything.

How to budget for it

Add it all up before you fall in love with a unit. A realistic all-in number for a $2,200 one-bedroom, including a local mover, is roughly $3,300 to $3,900 in cash to get the keys and your couch through the door.

A few ways to soften it: hunt in the slow winter season when buildings waive fees (see our winter apartment hunting guide), look for buildings advertising a waived admin or move-in fee as a concession, and remember to budget for utilities too, which we break down in our utility costs guide. Then browse current openings and book a tour.

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