Chicago rental guide
New Chicago apartments in 2026: 35 new-construction buildings now leasing
A working list of the newest downtown Chicago apartment buildings we track — grouped by neighborhood, with the lowest published starting rent by unit type and a link to each building's own leasing site. Starting rents shift with availability and concessions, so treat them as a snapshot and confirm before you tour.
Buildings tracked here
35
Starting studios
$2,008–$3,099
Starting one-bedrooms
$2,339–$4,594
West Loop & Fulton Market
The densest cluster of recent deliveries — Restaurant Row walkability plus Morgan/Ashland CTA access.
| Building | Studio from | 1 bed from | 2 bed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 727 W Madison | $2,384 | $3,733 | — |
| Onni Fulton Market | $2,400 | $3,500 | $3,449 |
| Union West | — | $3,400 | — |
| Coppia | — | $3,400 | — |
| Parq Fulton | — | $3,380 | $4,965 |
| Arthur on Aberdeen | $2,242 | $3,153 | $5,031 |
| One Six Six | $2,121 | $2,696 | $4,896 |
| The Elizabeth | $2,135 | $2,615 | $4,305 |
| Left Bank | — | $2,600 | — |
| Porte Apartments | $2,597 | $2,839 | $4,411 |
River North
Riverfront towers and amenity decks, five minutes from the Loop on foot.
| Building | Studio from | 1 bed from | 2 bed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMLI River North | $2,584 | $4,594 | $4,807 |
| Wolf Point East | — | $3,600 | — |
| One Chicago | $3,099 | $3,552 | $5,756 |
| Wolf Point West | — | $3,500 | — |
| Kingsbury Plaza | — | $3,373 | $4,999 |
| Niche 905 | — | $3,136 | $4,377 |
| Hubbard Place | — | $3,000 | — |
| Hubbard 221 | $2,265 | $2,709 | $3,909 |
Streeterville & Lakeshore East
Lakefront addresses, Michigan Avenue and the Riverwalk at the door.
| Building | Studio from | 1 bed from | 2 bed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Bennett Park | — | $4,500 | — |
| Optima Signature | — | $3,700 | — |
| Cascade Apartments | — | $2,903 | $4,440 |
| Arrive Streeterville | $2,109 | $2,349 | $3,669 |
The Loop & South Loop
Best value per square foot downtown, with express transit in every direction.
| Building | Studio from | 1 bed from | 2 bed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000M | $2,658 | $3,743 | $6,342 |
| One Eleven | — | $3,200 | — |
| Parkline Chicago | $2,789 | $2,945 | $4,358 |
| MILA Chicago | $2,695 | $2,820 | — |
| 1407 on Michigan | $2,113 | $2,538 | $4,281 |
| The Cooper | $2,136 | $2,486 | — |
| Imprint | $2,008 | $2,389 | $3,509 |
Gold Coast, Old Town & north
Quieter streets, boutique towers, and quick access to Lincoln Park and the lakefront trail.
| Building | Studio from | 1 bed from | 2 bed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sinclair | $2,619 | $3,690 | $6,219 |
| Old Town Park | — | $3,400 | — |
| 868 N Wells | $2,534 | $3,235 | $3,000 |
| The Belden Stratford | $3,033 | $3,033 | $8,087 |
| Old Town Park 3 | — | $2,580 | $2,580 |
| Inspire West Town | $2,199 | $2,339 | $3,590 |
How to shop a brand-new building
- Compare net effective, not advertised rent. A free-month credit on a 13-month lease is worth roughly 8% off — that can flip which building is actually cheaper.
- Ask what's still under construction. In a lease-up, amenity decks, pools, and lounges often open months after the first residents move in.
- Price the extras. Parking, storage, amenity fees, pet rent, and move-in fees vary widely between new towers and add up fast.
- Watch exposure and floor. Same floor plan, different tier: light, view, and street noise change the price more than square footage does.
- Time it. Winter move-ins in a lease-up are where the deepest concessions live; spring and summer pricing firms up quickly.
Frequently asked questions
- What counts as a new Chicago apartment building in 2026?
- On this page, buildings flagged as new construction in the Playbook's tracked downtown inventory — recently delivered towers plus lease-ups still filling their first residents. Older buildings with gut renovations are noted as such.
- How much does a new-construction apartment cost in Chicago?
- Across the buildings listed here, starting studios run roughly $2,000–$3,100, one-bedrooms roughly $2,300–$4,600, and two-bedrooms roughly $2,600–$8,100 per month. Starting rents move with availability and concessions.
- Do new buildings offer concessions?
- Lease-ups frequently do — free-month credits, waived amenity or admin fees, or reduced parking. Concessions change week to week, so the net effective rent is what matters, not the advertised rent.
- Which neighborhood has the most new apartments?
- West Loop and Fulton Market, followed by River North. Streeterville and the South Loop have the newest lakefront and value-per-square-foot options respectively.