Top 4 things to include in your J1 budget for Chicago

Hey there, my name is Niamh, and last summer I went on my J1 to Chicago.

I had a fantastic summer and, to make sure you feel the same, I wanted to share some tips on how to get the most out of your J1 summer.

One of the best things about a J1 is that you can make money whilst living and exploring a whole new place abroad. I recommend getting a service job lined up before you go (think of the tips $$$) and to save some money to reduce the stress. Not having to worry about money is definitely key to making your summer successful. With all the money chat in mind - below are some things to consider when thinking about how much you want to save and earn when you’re there.

Rent

I feel as this is the most obvious one but having accommodation that is affordable and in a good location is super important. My top tip here would be to have saved for most of your rent before flying to America. This alleviates the pressure of having to budget your income to include your rent and allows you to put your money towards different experiences. If this is not possible for you, I would recommend being organised and know exactly when your rent is due in order to save the money you earn on J1.

Travel card

Something that was unexpected in my budget, but was extremely useful and worth it for me, was a travel card. In Chicago, we had a travel card which worked out at 80 dollars a month, which initially was expensive. However, it meant you didn’t have to worry about buying bus and train tickets around the city.

We definitely all got our money's worth out of our travel cards as we used them daily to get to and from work and in/out of the city. Single travel tickets in Chicago were expensive, thus over a month the initial 80 dollars for the travel card made it really worthwhile. You can buy the card and top it up at every station, and we were able to upload them onto our phones which made travelling within the city really convenient.

Cultural activities

One of the best things you will experience over the summer are the cultural activities that aren’t the same as Ireland. For instance, in Chicago we attended baseball games, boat cruises on Lake Michigan, renting kayaks along the Riverwalk, the Chicago architecture cruise and much more.

Whilst sometimes ticket prices for these activities can be expensive, if you purchase them well in advance or extremely last minute you can still manage to get a good deal. For musicals/concerts there is always the possibility of getting cheap last-minute tickets. So, I would recommend having some savings for when these opportunities arise and plan your spending for cultural activities wisely.

Tipping culture

Before you even enter the USA, I am sure you have heard about the tipping culture. Although it is expensive and annoying at times, you will benefit from it greatly if you work in the service industry.

Every time you eat out/buy drinks you need to consider the cost of the tip. For example, tipping culture is approximately 18/22% in Chicago (correct as of Feb 2025) which makes things much more expensive than originally perceived. This is definitely something to consider in your budget because all the tips actually add up to a substantial amount at the end of the summer.

Final thoughts

My time in Chicago was one of the best summers I have ever experienced - it’s a fantastic city with so much to do. However, with America being so expensive you need to be budget-savvy for your money to stretch and allow you to experience everything and anything you can! So prep ahead with the steps above and you'll be covered.

If a J1 summer in Chicago is on your wish-list, find out more on how to apply and job roles here.