Living in Illinois as an Arab: Chicago & Bridgeview Guide 2026
Illinois is home to one of the oldest Palestinian and Arab communities in the Midwest, centered on Chicago's southwest side and its suburbs.
In short: Illinois, centered on Chicago's southwest side and the suburbs of Bridgeview and Palos Hills, is home to one of the oldest and largest Palestinian and Arab communities in the Midwest. The driver's license agency is the Illinois Secretary of State, not a DMV, and as of September 2026 the state income tax is a flat 4.95% with a 6.25% base sales tax.
Illinois and the Arab Community: Where People Live
Arab immigration to Chicago began in the early 1900s, with large waves from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Today much of the community is centered in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the city's southwest side, and in the neighboring suburbs of Bridgeview and Palos Hills, widely known locally as home to the largest Palestinian American community in the state.
This area has a dense concentration of mosques, Arab shops, and restaurants, and offers Arabic-language services in law, health, and education. Smaller Arab communities exist elsewhere in greater Chicago and its suburbs.
Just arrived? Read the First 90 Days in the USA guide before diving into Illinois-specific details.
Housing Costs in Chicago and Its Suburbs
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes official Fair Market Rents each year as a benchmark for rent. For the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville HUD metro area in FY2026, the published area-wide Fair Market Rent is roughly $1,581 for a one-bedroom and $1,781 for a two-bedroom.
| Unit type | FY2026 Fair Market Rent (Chicago metro area) |
|---|---|
| Studio | Below the 1-bedroom rate; see the official lookup tool |
| 1-bedroom | $1,581 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,781 |
These are metro-wide figures — actual rents in Bridgeview, downtown Chicago, and other neighborhoods can differ significantly. For exact ZIP-code-level numbers, use the lookup tool at HUD USER's official site. To understand the rest of your monthly budget, see the Cost of Living in the USA guide.
Driver's License: The Secretary of State, Not a DMV
Like Michigan, Illinois has no agency called a "DMV." Driver's licenses are handled by the Illinois Secretary of State's Driver Services division, and all transactions run through ilsos.gov or an in-person office visit.
- Gather your documents. Proof of legal presence, Social Security number, proof of identity, and proof of Illinois residency.
- Schedule an appointment. Some facilities accept walk-ins, but booking ahead cuts wait times.
- Pass the vision and knowledge exams. If you're 18 or older applying for the first time, you'll take the driver knowledge exam during the same visit.
- Complete the road skills test after a practice period that generally runs several weeks, depending on your license class and age.
We could not confirm on the Illinois Secretary of State's official website that Arabic is offered as a standard driver knowledge exam language. Interpreter accommodations may be available on request at some facilities. Call your local office before your appointment to confirm what's actually available.
On REAL ID: it became required starting May 7, 2025 to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings. Full details are on the official Illinois REAL ID page. For general steps that apply across most states, see the Driver's License in the USA guide and the DMV Test in Arabic guide.
Taxes in Illinois
Illinois is one of the few states with a flat income tax rate, locked into the state constitution after voters rejected a graduated-tax amendment in 2020.
| Tax type | Rate (as of September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Individual income tax (flat rate) | 4.95% |
| State base sales tax | 6.25%, higher locally (over 10% in Chicago) |
This 4.95% rate is confirmed by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Verify the current figure before filing, especially since effective sales tax varies sharply by city due to local add-ons. For steps on your first filing, see the First Tax Return guide and the complete U.S. Taxes guide. If you don't have a Social Security number, start with the ITIN Number guide.
Health Coverage: HFS and the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace
If your job doesn't offer health insurance, Illinois residents have two main paths.
Illinois Medicaid is administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) through the HealthChoice Illinois managed care program. For eligibility and how to apply, see the official HFS Medical Programs page.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid, Illinois now runs its own marketplace called Get Covered Illinois, the state platform that replaced full reliance on the federal exchange starting in fall 2025. See getcovered.illinois.gov to enroll and compare plans.
To understand the difference between plans, see the Health Insurance in the USA guide and the Medicaid for Immigrants guide, and check enrollment timing in the Marketplace Open Enrollment guide.
Illinois's 2026 Minimum Wage
Per the U.S. Department of Labor, Illinois's statewide minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, unchanged since the state's legislated increase schedule completed in January 2025, with no additional inflation adjustment announced so far.
| Area | Hourly rate (2026) |
|---|---|
| Illinois (statewide) | $15.00 |
| City of Chicago | $17.05 |
| Suburban Cook County (from July 2026) | $15.40 |
If you work within Chicago city limits or suburban Cook County, your local minimum wage is higher than the statewide floor. See the Illinois Department of Labor's minimum wage law page, and to compare against other states, see the Minimum Wage by State guide.
Renting and Tenant Rights Basics
Before signing any lease in Illinois, know the basics of your rights as a tenant:
- Starting January 1, 2024, landlords must give tenants a written itemized statement of any damage before deducting repair costs from the security deposit, within 30 days of move-out.
- If the building has 25 or more units and the deposit was held 6 months or more, the tenant is owed annual interest on it.
- State law bars rental discrimination based on religion, national origin, or marital status, among other protected categories.
For the full official reference, see the Illinois Attorney General's Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws guide. Illinois Legal Aid Online also offers free explanations and tools on deposits and eviction. If you don't have a credit history yet, see the Renting an Apartment with No Credit guide.
Enrolling Kids in School
Every child residing in Illinois, regardless of immigration status, has the right to attend free public school. Enrollment runs through the local school district covering your home address, and typically requires proof of address, immunization records, and prior school records if available.
For the state-level official reference, see the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). For the general step-by-step process, see the Enrolling Kids in U.S. Schools guide.
Arab Community Resources in Illinois
The most prominent Arab organization in Chicago is the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), based in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. Founded in 1995, it's the only Arab organization in Chicago combining social services with community organizing and advocacy. It offers social services, legal support, and cultural programming. Reach them through aaan.org.
For more resources and vetted service providers near you, browse our Illinois business and services directory, and to check prayer times in your city, see our prayer times page.
Common Mistakes New Arrivals Make in Illinois
- Searching for a "DMV" instead of the "Secretary of State." You'll waste time looking for an agency by the wrong name.
- Assuming Arabic is automatically available at the driving test. Call your local facility first and confirm rather than relying on unofficial sites.
- Confusing Chicago's minimum wage with the rest of the state. The gap can exceed two dollars an hour.
- Relying on unofficial housing or tax figures. Always check HUD or the Department of Revenue before a financial decision.
What's Next
Once you've handled the Illinois basics, these are the logical next steps:
- Driver's License in the USA guide for the general process before your Secretary of State visit.
- Health Insurance in the USA guide to compare HFS coverage against the Get Covered Illinois marketplace.
- First 90 Days in the USA guide if you've just arrived and haven't set your basic priorities yet.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Arabs live in Illinois?
Chicago's southwest side (the Chicago Lawn area) and the suburbs of Bridgeview and Palos Hills, home to the largest Palestinian American community in the state.
Is Illinois's driver's license agency called the DMV?
No. It's the Illinois Secretary of State's Driver Services division, not a DMV.
Is the driving test available in Arabic in Illinois?
We could not confirm Arabic as a standard official exam language on the Secretary of State's site. Interpreter accommodations may be available on request — call your local facility ahead of your appointment to confirm.
What is Illinois's income tax rate?
A flat 4.95% on all income levels, per the Illinois Department of Revenue — a rate locked into the state constitution since voters rejected a graduated tax amendment in 2020.
What is Illinois's Medicaid program and marketplace called?
Medicaid is administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) through the HealthChoice Illinois managed care program, while the marketplace is Get Covered Illinois, the state's own exchange platform launched in fall 2025.
What is Illinois's 2026 minimum wage?
$15.00/hour statewide per the U.S. Department of Labor, while Chicago pays $17.05 and suburban Cook County pays $15.40 starting July 2026.
Where can I find an Arab community organization in Chicago?
The Arab American Action Network (AAAN) in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, founded in 1995, offers social services, community organizing, and legal support.
Is sales tax the same everywhere in Illinois?
No. The state base rate is 6.25%, but cities and counties add local taxes, pushing Chicago's effective rate above 10%.
Official sources we reviewed
- Illinois Secretary of State – Driver Services ↗
- Illinois SOS – REAL ID ↗
- Illinois Department of Revenue – Income Tax Rate ↗
- Illinois Department of Revenue – Tax Rate Database ↗
- U.S. Department of Labor – Minimum Wage by State ↗
- Illinois HFS – Medical Programs ↗
- Get Covered Illinois ↗
- HUD USER – FY2026 Fair Market Rents ↗
- Illinois Attorney General – Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws ↗
- Illinois Legal Aid Online – Security Deposits ↗
- Illinois State Board of Education ↗
- Arab American Action Network ↗