Chicago is one of the great American cities that it’s possible to enjoy without spending a mint, partially because the airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, is one of the largest in the country and serves as a hub for many major airlines. Cheap airline tickets to Chicago are available from a number of cities, including Denver, Miami, Las Vegas, Washington, DC and Miami. If you check flights carefully you can often find fares for under $500 a person from these cities.

The greater Chicago area also has three other airports: Chicago Midway International Airport, Gary-Chicago International Airport and Chicago-Rockford International Airport. Sometimes cheap flights can be found by flying into one of the alternate airports, especially Midway.

Cheap hotel rooms in Chicago can be found, especially if you’re willing to stay outside the heart of the city (near Michigan Avenue). Airport area hotels run as little as under $100 a night, and even if you do want to stay in a hotel with views of Lake Michigan or the Chicago River you can find one for around two hundred dollars per night, which is a lot less than hotels in New York or Los Angeles, for example.

Chicago is one of the United States’ top restaurant cities, and as a result there are a lot of expensive restaurants there, but you can eat out cheaply in Chicago if you plan ahead. There are many old style delis in Chicago where you can get good old-fashioned grill food for under $10 per person, as well as many ethnic restaurants that offer similar prices, including Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican and Middle Eastern.

If you’re looking for inexpensive entertainment in Chicago, your best bet may just be to hang out with the locals on the shores of Lake Michigan , but the Chicago Tribute offers entertainment listings on their website daily, including tons of free and low-admission things to do. Chicago is one of the most exciting cities to visit in America, and fortunately it’s also one of the most affordable.

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