Chicago Colocation
Chicago Data Centers, Providers and 2026 Pricing, From 350 East Cermak to the O'Hare Corridor and Aurora
Chicago now has the highest colocation rates of any major US market and about 20 MW of space available across the metro. We find the capacity that fits your requirement and negotiate the terms.
Price My Chicago RequirementChicago colocation means renting space, power and connectivity for your own servers in one of the Chicago metro's data centers, from the carrier hotel at 350 East Cermak downtown to the campuses of the O'Hare corridor and the CME trading ecosystem in Aurora. It is the largest colocation market in Illinois and now one of the tightest and most expensive in North America. Chicago held 910.6 MW of wholesale inventory in mid-2026, up 37.7 percent in a year, but only about 20 MW was available, a 2.2 percent vacancy rate. CBRE puts Chicago's asking rates for a 250 to 500 kW requirement at $200 to $230 per kW per month, the highest of North America’s four core data center markets, and reports no contiguous block of 5 MW or more available. New power from ComEd is quoted into 2032 or later for large projects. For a buyer, that means the choice of submarket and building matters more than it used to, and the search has to start early and run across every operator at once.
Figures as of mid-2026. Sources: CBRE Global Data Center Trends 2026 (Q1 inventory, growth and rates); CBRE North America Data Center Trends H1 2026 (availability). Free to cite with a link to this page.
Cabinets or kilowatts, density, submarket, and the date you need it. You'll hear back within 24 hours from the person who will run your search, with the Chicago facilities that fit quoted at once and benchmarked against what comparable deployments pay. In a market with 20 MW available, that is how the right space gets committed first. The provider you choose pays us, so it costs you nothing.
The Three Chicago Colocation Submarkets
Choosing the submarket comes before choosing the facility. Each serves a different kind of buyer, and price, density and network options differ sharply between them.
| Submarket | Key facilities | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Chicagothe network hub | 350 East Cermak and 600 South Federal (Digital Realty); Equinix CH1, CH2 and CH4 inside 350 East Cermak; CoreSite CH1 and CH2; QTS on S. Ashland Avenue | Highest | Carrier choice, cloud on-ramps, peering, financial firms connecting to many counterparties |
| O'Hare corridorElk Grove Village to Northlake | Elk Grove Village (Equinix CH3, Digital Realty, Aligned, Prime, STACK), Franklin Park (Digital Realty), Itasca, Northlake, Hoffman Estates | Middle | Larger deployments, wholesale, AI and high density, new capacity |
| Auroraabout 40 miles west | CyrusOne Aurora, home of CME Group's matching engine | High | Trading firms that need the lowest latency to CME |
Cost positions are Metro Colo Advisory market reads, relative to each other, not quotes.
Downtown: 350 East Cermak
One of the largest carrier hotels in the world: an eight-story, 1.1 million square foot building owned by Digital Realty, with more than 100 MW of utility power on three feeds and dozens of networks inside. Equinix runs CH1, CH2 and CH4 in the building; CoreSite's CH2 at 1432 South Clinton was the first ground-up data center built downtown. Choose it when your workload depends on reaching many networks, clouds or counterparties.
The O'Hare corridor
Where Chicago's large-scale capacity lives. Elk Grove Village holds the biggest concentration, and development keeps moving west toward available power in Northlake and Hoffman Estates. Choose it for several hundred kW and up, for AI and GPU colocation, and whenever space and power matter more than carrier density.
Aurora
CyrusOne's Aurora data center hosts CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange. Firms that compete on speed sit as close to the matching engine as they can; firms that need CME access without the lowest latency usually stay downtown with a network path to Aurora. See financial services colocation.
Chicago Colocation Providers
The Chicago data center providers a search compares, and what each is built for. We hold channel partner relationships across the major operators and are paid comparably by each, so the recommendation follows the requirement.
| Provider | Where in the metro | Built for |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Realty | 350 East Cermak, 600 South Federal, Franklin Park, Elk Grove Village | Chicago's main carrier hotel and a connected campus from downtown to the suburbs |
| Equinix | CH1, CH2 and CH4 at 350 East Cermak; CH3 in Elk Grove Village; CH7 in Westmont | Interconnection, with 185-plus network providers across its Chicago platform |
| CoreSite | CH1 downtown; CH2 at 1432 South Clinton, built for 18 MW | Hybrid cloud through its Open Cloud Exchange, including native 400G AWS Direct Connect in Chicago |
| QTS | Downtown, on S. Ashland Avenue | Large-scale colocation in a converted industrial building |
| DataBank | Chicago metro | Enterprise and compliance-focused deployments |
| TierPoint and Flexential | Chicago metro | Mid-market enterprise and disaster recovery |
| Aligned, Prime and STACK | Elk Grove Village and the O'Hare corridor | Wholesale and hyperscale capacity |
| CyrusOne | Aurora | The CME ecosystem for latency-sensitive trading |
Facility details from operator announcements and public listings, September 2026. See every operator side by side in the provider comparison, or Equinix alternatives if you are comparing against Equinix in Chicago.
Chicago Colocation Pricing in 2026
Chicago is no longer a discount market. CBRE put asking rates for a 250 to 500 kW requirement at $200 to $230 per kW per month in early 2026, the highest of the major US markets, up 14.7 percent from the previous year; Northern Virginia sat at $190 to $235. Rates for 10 MW and up rose 9.7 percent in the first half of 2026.
Where it costs most
Downtown carrier hotels and Aurora, where you pay for network density and proximity to CME. Cross-connects add up fastest here, especially for trading firms connected to many counterparties.
Where the value is
The O'Hare corridor campuses, which usually offer more space and power per dollar and are where most new capacity is delivered.
What the rate leaves out
Cross-connects, remote hands, setup fees and power above your commitment. Compare five-year totals, not rates. See the colocation pricing guide and the data center lease guide.
Site and power feasibility, market studies and acquisition due diligence for developers and investors in this market, in writing at a fixed fee agreed before work starts. See data center consulting, powered land and data center valuation.
Low-Latency Colocation for Trading Firms and CME
Which Chicago data centers offer low-latency access to CME? The matching engine runs in CyrusOne's Aurora data center, so the lowest latency is a deployment in Aurora itself. The next tier is downtown, at 350 East Cermak and nearby buildings, connected to Aurora over low-latency fiber and microwave routes and to the rest of the market's networks and counterparties. Most proprietary trading firms split the difference: latency-critical strategies in Aurora, everything else downtown, where connectivity is broader and space is easier to find. The decision is strategy by strategy, and it is worth pricing both before assuming Aurora is required.
Tell us which strategies need CME latency and which do not. We price Aurora and downtown side by side, cross-connects included, so you only pay the Aurora premium where it earns its keep. The provider you choose pays us, so it costs you nothing.
Who Chicago Colocation Suits
Small deployments, one to ten racks
Retail colocation downtown or in the near suburbs, from operators that sell by the cabinet: Equinix, CoreSite, Digital Realty, DataBank, TierPoint and Flexential. Small deployments have the most choice in Chicago, because the scarcity is in large contiguous blocks, not cabinets.
Enterprise and hybrid cloud
Downtown for cloud on-ramps and network choice, or the O'Hare corridor for cost. See hybrid cloud colocation.
Healthcare and HIPAA
Several Chicago operators support HIPAA-compliant deployments with business associate agreements; the right choice depends on the documentation, audit cadence and BAA scope you need. See healthcare and HIPAA colocation.
AI and high density
Newer O'Hare corridor halls have the power and cooling that dense racks need; some downtown halls support higher density in specific rooms. The first question is which hall can deliver your density on your date.
Disaster recovery for the East Coast
Chicago's central position and separate grid make it a common recovery site for New York and Northern Virginia primaries. See disaster recovery colocation.
Moving off the cloud
Steady workloads leaving the cloud usually land in colocation downtown or in the corridor. See cloud repatriation.
What Makes the Chicago Data Center Market Different
Power is the constraint
ComEd delivery timelines for large new projects run into 2032 or later, and ComEd now requires 10-year letters of credit backing transmission revenue on projects of 50 MW or more. New development is moving out of the suburbs toward sites with 500 MW or more of power.
Incentives are in flux
Illinois paused new agreements under its Data Center Investment Program, the sales tax exemption for qualifying equipment, from July 1, 2026. If a deployment depends on the exemption, confirm its status before you sign.
A central network position
Major long-haul routes meet in Chicago, which makes it a natural hub for companies serving both coasts and a common recovery site for East Coast primaries.
Illinois privacy law
The Biometric Information Privacy Act is among the strictest biometric laws in the country, which matters for companies handling biometric data in the state.
Sources: CBRE Chicago market profile; Data Center Frontier on CBRE H1 2026.
Tier Certification at Chicago Data Centers
Buyers often ask which Chicago facilities hold Uptime Institute Tier certification. Most Chicago colocation buildings, like most buildings elsewhere, describe themselves as Tier III-equivalent or concurrently maintainable, which is a design claim rather than a certificate. CoreSite CH2, for example, is listed as Tier III-equivalent with concurrently maintainable electrical and mechanical systems. If certification matters to your compliance program, ask the operator for the certificate itself, check it against Uptime Institute's public registry, and confirm whether it covers design, the constructed facility or operations. See data center tiers for what each level actually covers.
Chicago vs Other Markets
| Market | How it compares with Chicago |
|---|---|
| Northern Virginia | The largest market in the world, with the most cloud density and even tighter vacancy at 0.2 percent. Rates for 250 to 500 kW are close to Chicago's. See Washington DC colocation |
| Dallas | A fast-growing central market with more available capacity and lower average rates; the usual alternative when Chicago power is not available in time. See Dallas colocation |
| New York | The equities and market data hub, where Chicago leads in derivatives. See NYC colocation |
| Atlanta | Now the largest construction pipeline in North America, and a Southeast hub. See Atlanta colocation |
| Nearby Midwest markets | Markets within roughly 20 ms of Chicago, such as Columbus, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City, sit close enough for many workloads that need low latency to it, usually at lower cost and with more available power. Round-trip times vary by carrier and route, so test on your own network before deciding |
Data Centers in Illinois: Beyond the City
Illinois has one of the largest data center pipelines in the country, behind only Virginia and Texas by the number of projects planned or under construction in early 2026. Nearly all of the state's colocation is in the Chicago metro, but the new large campuses are spreading west of it.
| Area | What is there | What it means for tenants |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Chicago | The 350 East Cermak carrier hotel and the downtown interconnection buildings | Networks, cross-connects and the densest connectivity in the Midwest |
| O'Hare corridor | Elk Grove Village, Franklin Park, Itasca and Northlake, the largest concentration of capacity in the state | Most of the market's wholesale and enterprise space |
| Western suburbs: Aurora and Westmont | CyrusOne's Aurora campus serving the CME trading ecosystem, and Equinix CH7 in Westmont | Trading infrastructure and suburban colocation |
| Farther west: DeKalb | Meta's DeKalb data center and new large-campus proposals | Hyperscale only |
Sources: Pew Research Center figures as reported by Axios; AI Grid Watch project tracker. As of October 2026.
Local rules are tightening
Aurora ended a 180-day moratorium in March 2026 by adopting strict siting rules for new data centers, including noise caps and 1,500-foot setbacks for generators and chillers from homes. Existing facilities are unaffected.
Incentives on hold
Illinois paused new agreements under its data center sales tax incentive from July 1, 2026, as covered above. Confirm the status before a deployment depends on it.
Where to look
For anything from a cabinet to a few megawatts, the market is the city and the O'Hare corridor. For trading, Aurora.
How to Find Colocation Space in Chicago
Choose the submarket before the building
Downtown for networks and counterparties, the O'Hare corridor for space, power and density, Aurora only for latency-critical trading. Your office location is the weakest reason to choose any of them.
Send the requirement before contacting any operator
Once an operator has it directly, it usually will not work through an advisor. Sent through us, it goes to the facilities that fit, and we negotiate the terms for you.
Ask for capacity with a date
With about 20 MW available and no 5 MW block expected in 2026, the useful question is what exists on your date at your density, not what is advertised as coming.
Compare five-year totals
Escalator, cross-connects, setup, remote hands and power above the commitment decide the bill. In Chicago, cross-connects can change which building is cheapest.
Plan for growth now
Expansion rights on adjacent space are scarce and worth negotiating at signing, because large contiguous blocks are scarce and most new supply is preleased before it delivers.
Five Mistakes Chicago Buyers Make
1. Assuming Chicago is the cheap option
For many requirements it now prices at or above Northern Virginia. Budget from current rates, not old reputations.
2. Starting the search too late
With ComEd timelines past 2032 for large projects, the capacity that exists today is what there is.
3. Paying for Aurora when downtown would do
Only the most latency-sensitive strategies need to sit next to CME's matching engine.
4. Comparing rates instead of totals
Cross-connects and remote hands can reverse which facility is cheapest.
5. Counting on an incentive that has paused
The state data center investment program stopped new agreements in July 2026. Confirm before relying on it.
How We Find Space in Chicago
You send the requirement: cabinets or kilowatts, density, submarket preference, compliance and the date. We find the Chicago space that can serve it, including space that is not advertised, compare the options on five-year cost and terms, and negotiate the contract before you sign. The provider you choose pays us from its channel budget, so it costs you nothing and your rate is not marked up. If Chicago is not the right market for the requirement, we say so and price the one that is. How a data center broker works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does colocation cost in Chicago?
For a 250 to 500 kW requirement, CBRE put Chicago asking rates at $200 to $230 per kW per month in early 2026, the highest of North America's four core data center markets and up 14.7 percent in a year. Rates for 10 MW and up rose 9.7 percent in the first half of 2026. Downtown carrier hotels and Aurora sit at the top of the range, and O'Hare corridor campuses usually offer more space and power per dollar.
What is the best data center in Chicago?
It depends on the workload. For carrier density and cloud on-ramps, 350 East Cermak downtown, owned by Digital Realty, with Equinix, CoreSite and QTS nearby. For larger deployments and AI, the O'Hare corridor campuses in Elk Grove Village and Franklin Park. For latency-critical trading, CyrusOne Aurora, home of CME's matching engine.
Who are the main Chicago data center providers?
Digital Realty, Equinix, CoreSite, QTS, DataBank, TierPoint, Flexential, Aligned, Prime, STACK and CyrusOne. Each is strongest for a different kind of workload, from interconnection downtown to wholesale in the O'Hare corridor and trading in Aurora.
Which colocation providers operate in downtown Chicago?
Digital Realty at 350 East Cermak and 600 South Federal, Equinix with CH1, CH2 and CH4 inside 350 East Cermak, CoreSite with CH1 and CH2, and QTS on S. Ashland Avenue.
Which Chicago data centers offer low-latency access to CME?
CME's matching engine runs in CyrusOne's Aurora data center, so the lowest latency is a deployment in Aurora. Downtown buildings such as 350 East Cermak connect to Aurora over low-latency fiber and microwave routes and suit strategies that need CME access without the lowest possible latency.
Is there colocation space available in Chicago?
Some. About 20 MW was available across the metro in early 2026, a 2.2 percent vacancy rate, and CBRE reports no contiguous block of 5 MW or more available. Cabinets and small suites are easier to find than large blocks.
Which Chicago colocation providers suit a small deployment of one to ten racks?
Operators that sell retail colocation by the cabinet, downtown or in the near suburbs: Equinix, CoreSite, Digital Realty, DataBank, TierPoint and Flexential. Small deployments have the most choice, because Chicago's scarcity is in large contiguous blocks.
Where should AI and high-density deployments go in Chicago?
Mostly the O'Hare corridor, where newer campuses have the power and cooling dense racks need; some downtown halls support higher density in specific rooms. Power availability is the limit, so start with which hall can deliver your density on your date.
Is there HIPAA-compliant colocation in Chicago?
Yes. Several Chicago operators support HIPAA-compliant deployments and sign business associate agreements. The right choice depends on the documentation, audit cadence and BAA scope you need, confirmed against your requirements before any commitment.
Do Chicago data centers hold Uptime Institute Tier certification?
Some do, but most describe themselves as Tier III-equivalent or concurrently maintainable, a design claim rather than a certificate. CoreSite CH2, for example, is listed as Tier III-equivalent. Ask the operator for the certificate and check it against Uptime Institute's registry if certification matters to you.
What are the alternatives to Equinix in Chicago?
Digital Realty and CoreSite downtown for carrier and cloud connectivity, QTS and DataBank for enterprise colocation, and Aligned, Prime and STACK in the O'Hare corridor for larger deployments. For trading, CyrusOne in Aurora. Equinix remains strong for dense interconnection.
Is Chicago or Northern Virginia better for colocation?
They serve different needs. Northern Virginia has the most cloud density and even tighter vacancy; Chicago offers a central network position, the CME derivatives ecosystem and a strong enterprise base. Rates for 250 to 500 kW are close in both.
Why is Chicago data center power so constrained?
ComEd's delivery timelines for large new projects run into 2032 or later, and it now requires 10-year letters of credit backing transmission revenue on projects of 50 MW or more. That is why new development is moving to sites with large power positions outside the suburbs.
Do you place colocation in Chicago?
Yes, across the major Chicago operators through formal channel partnerships. Send the requirement and you'll hear back within 24 hours. We find the facilities that fit, benchmark the pricing, and negotiate the contract before you sign. The provider you choose pays us, so it costs you nothing.
Where are the data centers in Illinois?
Mostly in the Chicago metro: downtown at 350 East Cermak, along the O'Hare corridor in Elk Grove Village, Franklin Park, Itasca and Northlake, and in the western suburbs at Aurora and Westmont. Farther west, Meta operates a data center in DeKalb. Illinois has one of the three largest data center pipelines in the US.
Price Your Chicago Requirement
Tell us what you need: cabinets or kilowatts, density, submarket, compliance and the date. You'll hear back within 24 hours from the person who will run your search. We find the Chicago facilities that fit, benchmark them against what comparable deployments pay, and negotiate the contract before you sign. If Chicago is not the right market, we say so and price the one that is.
Once you have contacted an operator directly, it usually will not work through an advisor on your deal. The provider you choose pays us, so it costs you nothing.
Other markets: New York, Northern Virginia, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Guides: the provider comparison, the colocation pricing guide, data center cost, data center tiers, wholesale colocation and Equinix alternatives.
By industry: financial services, healthcare and HIPAA, fintech and AI and GPU colocation.
Building and investing: data center consulting, powered land, data center valuation and how a data center broker works.
Also see: DataBank data centers, Denver colocation and Ohio data centers.
