Board games are often played at home with family or friends. But there are also spaces to meet up and play with strangers. Look out for Meetup groups or stop by your local gaming store (the kind that sells D&D).

If you are in Chicago, there are also several cafes and bars where you can borrow games and even find people to play with. E.g., Snakes and Lattes hosts weekly 'Mix and Mingle' nights. Check out the links below.

You can keep the costs low by picking up second-hand games, especially copies of the classics.

https://www.snakesandlattes.com/chicago

https://do312.com/p/chicagos-best-bars-with-board-games