Cheap Apartments for Rent in the River West Neighborhood of Chicago, IL from $700 (145 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the River West area of Chicago.

Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

When searching for a roommate, follow this list of essential steps and set clear expectations to create a solid foundation for a harmonious living situation.

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Explore the Windy City (But Watch for Falling Ice) - An Insider's Guide to Renting in Chicago

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Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

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River West, Chicago, IL Local Guide

Cheapest Available River West Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the River West area of Chicago, IL is a 1 Bed unit found at Maple priced from $1,230. Elm 551 at Parkside has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,313. Here are the most affordable River West apartments for rent in Chicago, IL:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Maple1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom1BR,1BA$1,230
Elm 551 at ParksideStudioStudio,1BA$1,313
1100 North LasalleStudioStudio,1BA$1,390
The Oliver on LaSalleStudioStudio,1BA$1,493
1522 N La Salle DrStudioStudio,1BA$1,600
The ArdusA14Studio,1BA$1,750

Best Value Apartments for Rent in River West, IL

As of November 15, 2025 the best value apartment in the River West area is the $1.20 price per square foot 831 N Ashland Ave Model at 831 N Ashland Ave, Unit 2 in the in the West Town neighborhood starting from $3,000. The second greatest value River West apartment is the 300 N Ogden Ave Model at 300 N Ogden Ave, Unit Unit202 starting at $3,650 with a $1.83 price per square foot in the West Loop neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for River West apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
831 N Ashland Ave, Unit 2831 N Ashland Ave5BR,1.5BA$1.20
300 N Ogden Ave, Unit Unit202300 N Ogden Ave2BR,1BA$1.83
300 N Ogden Ave, Unit 202300 N Ogden Ave2BR,1BA$1.83
1531 N Wells St, Unit A51531 N Wells St3BR,1BA$1.85
858 N Paulina St, Unit 1858 N Paulina St2BR,2BA$1.83
831 N Ashland Ave, Unit Unit2831 N Ashland Ave5BR,1.5BA$1.67
942 N Elston Ave, Unit 2R942 N Elston Ave2BR,2BA$1.84
1521 W Walton St, Unit #21521 W Walton St2BR,1BA$1.80
1228 N Cleaver St, Unit 3R1228 N Cleaver St2BR,1BA$1.60
Post ChicagoPrivate Bed in a 3 Bed 2 Bath3BR,2BA$1.21

Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.

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Best Neighborhoods to Rent in Near Chicago's Top Employers: A Guide for Renters

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The Ultimate Long-Distance Moving Checklist: Tips from a Real Estate Pro

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A Local Expert's Top Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in Chicago

A Local Expert's guide to the Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods Near Colleges in the Chicago, IL metro area for affordable living. Find your perfect Chicago Student apartment, condo, or rental home today at ApartmentHomeliving.com

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Quick Rent Budget Calculator

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The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
River West, Chicago, IL

Ranked #9

Among cities in Illinois for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Lifestyle Ratings

This website compares millions of points of data to bring you our detailed rental analysis called 'Lifestyle Ratings' - a comparison of rentals and neighborhoods across the USA, and customized analysis for Chicago, Illinois. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including searching for the best amenities, and the best proximity to parks and outdoor amenities, transit availability, pet-friendly communities, apartment communities for the kids, in addition to floorplans, availablity, and pricing. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Getting Around the River West Neighborhood in Chicago, IL

Walk Score®

93 / 100

Walker’s Paradise

Daily errands do not require a car

Bike Score®

94 / 100

Biker's Paradise

Daily errands can be accomplished on a bike

Transit Score®

75 / 100

Excellent Transit

Transit is convenient for most trips

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap River West Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in River West?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in River West is under $1,750.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in River West?

The cheapest apartment in River West is Maple which is listed at $1,230, while the average apartment in River West costs $29,286.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in River West?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 22 regular apartments in River West that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in River West?

Cheap apartments in River West have an average cost of $248 which is $29,038 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in River West.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

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A Local Expert’s Guide To 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent in Chicago

Written by: Nicole Harms

I’m Nicole, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Chicago, IL. As a resident of the Chicago area for over 20 years, I’ve learned which neighborhoods are great and which are best avoided.

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Apartment Common Area Rules: What Renters Need to Know

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Back in the day when I rented one of my first apartments, the property didn’t even have laundry in the building. Now, rental properties are often competing against each other to provide the best amenities.

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How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Everything is a negotiation in real estate! 

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The Rental Move-In Inspection Checklist: A Guide for Renters

Written by: Trey Huguley

The move-in inspection checklist is a crucial tool for both tenants and landlords. This checklist, provided by the team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com, helps document the condition of an apartment at the time of move-in.