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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Chicago, IL is $2,180/month as of 2026-03. That is +5.6% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,180/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
+5.6%
Monthly ZORI index values for Chicago, IL.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $2,180 | +1.07% |
| 2026-02 | $2,157 | +0.89% |
| 2026-01 | $2,138 | +0.52% |
| 2025-12 | $2,127 | -0.09% |
| 2025-11 | $2,129 | -0.23% |
| 2025-10 | $2,134 | -0.28% |
| 2025-09 | $2,140 | -0.09% |
| 2025-08 | $2,142 | +0.19% |
| 2025-07 | $2,138 | +0.52% |
| 2025-06 | $2,127 | +0.95% |
| 2025-05 | $2,107 | +0.96% |
| 2025-04 | $2,087 | +1.07% |
| 2025-03 | $2,065 | +0.98% |
| 2025-02 | $2,045 | +0.84% |
| 2025-01 | $2,028 | +0.45% |
| 2024-12 | $2,019 | +0.15% |
| 2024-11 | $2,016 | -0.05% |
| 2024-10 | $2,017 | -0.10% |
| 2024-09 | $2,019 | -0.10% |
| 2024-08 | $2,021 | +0.20% |
| 2024-07 | $2,017 | +0.45% |
| 2024-06 | $2,008 | +0.85% |
| 2024-05 | $1,991 | +0.81% |
| 2024-04 | $1,975 | — |
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report