TL;DR
CoStar is the enterprise standard with industry-leading lease comps and national market analytics—but at $15,000+/year with notoriously aggressive sales tactics. Chicago Cityscape costs 90% less ($1,375/year) and provides deeper Chicago-specific data including exclusive zoning change tracking, TOD analysis, and 40+ incentive programs. Choose CoStar if you need lease comps with an enterprise budget. Choose Chicago Cityscape if you focus on Chicago and want more value per dollar.
Save $13,625+ Per Year
Switch from CoStar ($15,000/year (avg)) to Chicago Cityscape ($1,375/year) and invest the savings back into your projects.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Feature | Chicago Cityscape | CoStar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Price | $1,375/year | $3,000/year |
| Annual Discount | ~8% (one month free) | None published |
| Coverage | ||
| Chicago Properties | 1.8M+ in Cook County | Commercial focus |
| Geographic Focus | Chicagoland (Cook, Lake IL, Lake IN) | National & International |
| Zoning | ||
| Zoning Data | Comprehensive + change tracking | Basic |
| Zoning Change Alerts | Yes - exclusive | No |
| Development | ||
| TOD Analysis | Yes | No |
| Incentives Checker | 40+ programs | No |
| Permits | ||
| Building Permits | Since 2006 + contractor links | Limited |
| Building Violations | Yes with notifications | No |
| Contractor Histories | Yes - company profiles | No |
| Ownership | ||
| Owner Records | Yes (official tax records) | Yes |
| Owner Contact Info | Names only | Limited |
| Analytics | ||
| Lease Comps | No | Yes - industry-leading |
| Market Analytics | Chicago-focused | Comprehensive national |
| Foreclosure Data | Comprehensive | Yes |
| Export | ||
| Data Export | Excel, GIS | Yes |
| Trial | ||
| Free Trial | 14 days, no credit card | Demo only |
| Contract | ||
| Contract Terms | Flexible (monthly/quarterly/annual) | Annual, auto-renewal |
Where CoStar Excels
- Industry-leading lease comp data
- Comprehensive market analytics
- National and international coverage
- Extensive research team
Where CoStar Falls Short
- Very expensive ($15K+/year average)
- Long-term contracts with auto-renewal
- Poor customer service reputation
- No zoning change tracking or TOD analysis
Who Should Choose What
Choose CoStar If...
- Large commercial brokerages with enterprise budgets
- Teams needing lease comps
- National/multi-market operators
- Institutional investors
Choose Chicago Cityscape If...
- Budget-conscious professionals
- Chicago-focused local professionals
- Developers needing zoning and incentives analysis
- Anyone wanting to save $13,000+/year
Ready to Try Chicago Cityscape?
Start your 14-day free trial—no credit card required. See why Chicago real estate professionals choose the platform built specifically for their market.
Start Free Trial Schedule a Demo
After starting the trial, we'll reach out to schedule an onboarding session.