If you’re single and all you can afford for rent is “not much,” you’ll want to check out the SRO (single room occupancy) properties scattered around the city.
The newest SRO in the South Loop is The Studios, 1801 S Wabash Ave. The six-story, 170-unit building opened in 1997 as the first new SRO built in the city in more than 50 years.
Units rent for just over $400 a month, are “fully furnished and include cooking facilities, private baths, and generous storage.” Renters need to show an employment history and earn in the range of $16K to $26K a year.
The building has decent access to public transportation via State St and Michigan Ave buses connecting to the Red Line. It’s also within reasonable walking distance of McCormick Place and South Loop university campuses.