This is obviously a really difficult question to answer. Every single marketer out there realizes the volatile nature of billboard advertising and the fact that there are so many things that have an impact on the prices that have to be paid. Because of this, besides highlighting how much you are going to be asked to pay, we should also talk about some things.
Chicago, The Windy City, is quite a big metropolis. It is actually the city that includes the country’s second largest business district. You almost always have high traffic billboard exposure, some on interstate highways that run through the city like Interstate 80 or Interstate 55.
We also have access to various local downtown attractions like Grant Park or Rogers Park. You can advertise close to Soldier Field or tackle the State Street with some smaller billboards.
The bottom line is that you have to look at all the options available. In most cases the price of the billboard will vary based on size and location. Based on sizes, you can expect to pay:
- Large Billboards – Suitable for name and brand recognition building, almost always located in the heavy traffic parts of Chicago – $1500 to $5000 per month
- Medium Billboards – Also referred to as posters, you can use them for events, promotions and even product launches. In most cases the medium billboards are placed in market areas. Prices usually vary from $700 to $3000.
- Small Billboards – These are cost effective and are better suited for a short term advertisement. You can expect to pay just $300 to $800 per month for one.
Digital Billboards
We have to treat digital billboards differently because they have some extra advantages that many marketers will take advantage of in a highly effective way. These billboards are almost always large since they allow the use of digital content. You can expect to pay $2,500 to $8,000 per month for one ad, based on where the billboard is placed. However, most of the digital billboards are located in commercial areas that have heavy traffic.
Always make sure that you know your target audience so that you can choose the best location for the Chicago billboard you want to rent.