+1 on what most have said here.
At $30/hr you'll live like a king...even at $15/hr you'll do well...depends on your lifestyle. I was just talking to a friend of mine who used to live in NY and moved here 5 years ago. He said he loved NY, but he felt that in Chicago "you can have a life...if you want to start a business, you can do it. If you want to buy a house, you can do it."

I'm moving into a new apt next week and spent the last 2 months looking (I'm picky). Been living here all my life (except for a 4 year stint in Boulder), and there's always something availible that's right for you. 2 bedrooms in Logan Square, UK Village, Lincoln Square, etc. can be had for $750 on up for something decent...probabaly cheaper in Pilsen like someone else already said. Good, cheap food is endless, as well as booze....Danny's, Goldstar, Delilahs, etc. Chicago is the **it.