Well, I'm not in Chicago, so prices may be different here. Our basic cable is $13.70 a month from Cox, but that does not include the MTV, discovery, etc. It's just channels 1-24 here which includes the networks (nbc, cbs, abc, fox, etc) and pbs, a religion channel and actually the disney channel. We have Direct TV rather than regular cable for mtv, espn, etc and it's cheaper than Cox would be, but it's still $45/month. My basic phone line is $36/month with BellSouth. I do have the extras like call waiting and caller id, though. We have dsl, so that adds, but if you need internet access through a regular line, you have to count for that. From experience, I would say to save as much as you can BEFORE you move out for those little things that pop up- will the place you rent have a washer & dryer or will you need to pay to wash clothes- or even buy a washer & dryer? Same goes for refrigerators. Most apartments come with them, but rent houses don't always. DO you have furniture, plates, glasses, utensils, a phone, a bed, sheets, towels, all of that stuff you use without thinking every day. Once you move out, it is very hard to move back after you've gotten used to not having to "check in" with anyone. If you are dead set on moving out, I'd get a roomate to help split the bills. It's very hard to do it by yourself and, as a banker I strongy suggest that you do not get loans or use credit cards to help pay for anything. All of your bills will depend on where you want to live, but I'd say that you'll need the rent and then about $150 for electricity, $35-40 for water and garbage, $50 for cable, $40 for phone- local only(add another $15 or so if you call long distance much), groceries depend on your eating in/out habits, but probably at least $200 a month on food if you eat cheap. Don't forget that once you are on your own for living, it's for everything else, too. Clothes, shoes, hair, car, entertainment, etc. Know this was long, but hope it helps.
