Wicker Park vs. Naperville
A two-bedroom for a working couple, one commuting to the Loop
Wicker Park (Chicago) saves $15,900/year
That's $1,325/month. Higher rent in Wicker Park is more than offset by going car-free and a shorter commute. Naperville's lower rent hides the cost of two cars and a long Metra ride.
Rent / Mortgage
2-bedroom market rent
Car #1 (payment, insurance, gas, maint.)
AAA average ≈ $1,000/mo per car
Car #2 (payment, insurance, gas, maint.)
Most suburban couples need two cars
Transit pass (CTA / Metra)
CTA monthly vs. Metra monthly from Zone 4
Rideshare / occasional carshare
Car-free households use rideshare more
Commute time value
30 min vs. 75 min round trip @ $25/hr × 21 days
Representative starting figures for Chicago, 2025 to 2026. See the methodology for how defaults like the $12,000/yr per-car cost are derived.
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