Cost of Living Comparison Between Alamogordo, NM and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alamogordo, NM and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,001 in Alamogordo, NM versus $3,066 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,032 in Alamogordo, NM versus $4,583 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,063 in Alamogordo, NM versus $6,100 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Alamogordo, NM costs roughly 35% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alamogordo, NM 49% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.54 $17.54

$20.53 $20.53

-14.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 $50.8

$102 $102

-50.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 $5.10

$12.03 $12.03

-57.61%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$5.62 $5.62

-18.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.07 $3.07

-34.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.42 $2.42

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$6.98 $6.98

-28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 $4.41

$8.10 $8.10

-45.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.08 $1.08

9.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$5.52 $5.52

-38.77%

Eggs

$5.11 $5.11

$4.55 $4.55

12.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$14.58 $14.58

12.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$14.91 $14.91

4.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.62 $19.62

$18.83 $18.83

4.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.34 $5.34

7.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.76 $1.76

0.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.90 $6.90

$4.39 $4.39

57.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$4.37 $4.37

36.38%

Potato (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$2.55 $2.55

135.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.78 $2.78

-4.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.46 $2.46

-12.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.66 $2.66

-9.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.52 $9.52

$14.74 $14.74

-35.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.17 $15.17

4.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.45 $2.45

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.68 $3.68

10.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.52 $2.52

-19.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.29 $3.29

8.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.43 $1.43

28.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.02 $29.02

$24.86 $24.86

16.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.09 $1.09

-30.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.9K $28.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

-7.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.5K $29.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

10.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$115 $115

$187 $187

-38.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.29 $45.29

$62.4 $62.4

-27.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.6 $66.6

$67.1 $67.1

-0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.86 $43.86

$75.2 $75.2

-41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$13.17 $13.17

69.70%

Cinema Ticket

$10.85 $10.85

$15.21 $15.21

-28.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$2,039 $2,039

-33.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K $15.3K

$39.3K $39.3K

-61.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$64.0 $64.0

-10.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$50.6 $50.6

11.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$95.4 $95.4

-8.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 $98.1

$144 $144

-31.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 $1,027

$2,355 $2,355

-56.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$819 $819

$1,613 $1,613

-49.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$4,728 $4,728

-65.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$2,754 $2,754

-50.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,712 $1,712

$3,803 $3,803

-54.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,598 $1,598

$2,580 $2,580

-38.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,745 $2,745

$4,738 $4,738

-42.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

-9.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alamogordo, NM: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,027 in Alamogordo, NM and $2,355 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 73% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51 in Alamogordo, NM vs $102 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $479 vs $447, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alamogordo, NM vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alamogordo, NM and Chicago, IL differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($2,001 vs $3,066 including rent). Alamogordo, NM is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 73% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,027 in Alamogordo, NM versus $2,355 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,001 per month in Alamogordo, NM versus $3,066 in Chicago, IL – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,001 in Alamogordo, NM versus $3,066 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Alamogordo, NM but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Alamogordo, NM the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Alamogordo, NM gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.