If you work in Chicago or the suburbs and live in Rockford, I'm sure there's been a minute when you've considered moving out of the Forest City.

Why not, right? Especially when you consider the cost of gas commuting back and forth.

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However, would the cost of gas cover the living expenses of calling The Windy City home?

Just to figure it out, I decided to take a close look at the most expensive condos for rent in both Chicago and Rockford.

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Needless to say, personal preferences aside, the chance to live in a gorgeous highrise in Chicago is undeniable, but under the hood how different are these two places?

I took a peek at two-bedroom, two-bath condos for rent at Two Old Town Park, 202 West Hill in Chicago, and at 2221 Wittenham Place in Rockford.

Apartment Guide, Mirek Niemiec with Key Realty IL - Broker
Apartment Guide, Mirek Niemiec with Key Realty IL - Broker
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Let me get this out of the way, and mention that both of these places are lovely and would totally be at the top of my list if I was considering moving into a condo.

That said, there are some major differences.

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The Chicago condo is listed at 1,020 square feet. Kind of tiny considering there are two bedrooms and two baths. The Rockford condo is much bigger, at 1,408 square feet.

All appliances along with new carpet, fresh paint, and vaulted ceilings are included in the Rockford condo.

Mirek Niemiec with Key Realty IL - Broker
Mirek Niemiec with Key Realty IL - Broker
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So while the Rockford condo does offer some nice amenities, the Chicago condo, whoa baby, according to Old Town Park includes:

  • Heated pool
  • Hot Tub
  • Spa
  • Sauna
  • Outdoor lounges
  • Fire Pits
  • Indoor/Outdoor Multi-Sport Courts
  • Exercise and fitness studio

All of these are things you can use while living at Old Town Park.

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Apartment Guide
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So while all that sounds great, here's the biggest difference between both places, the price.

The two-bed, two-bath condo in Chicago is rentable today, and going for a minimum of $4931 monthly. That's the MINIMUM.

Pile of Money
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Meanwhile, the Rockford condo is $2200 per month. It's essentially two times cheaper to live in the top condo in Screw City as opposed to living in the Chi.

Unless you're really paying an extra 2gs in gas and travel expenses per month, it's probably best to just stay in the 815.

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