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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Albuquerque, NM is 19.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Albuquerque, NM is 19.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96 $16.96
$20.82 $20.82
-18.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.5 $78.5
$100 $100
-21.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.93 $9.93
$11.97 $11.97
-17.04%
Cappuccino
$5.43 $5.43
$5.56 $5.56
-2.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.11 $3.11
-8.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.42 $2.42
-26.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.86 $6.86
-10.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$8.45 $8.45
-4.50%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3 $3
$4.15 $4.15
-27.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$5.52 $5.52
-40.58%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$4.65 $4.65
-5.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.82 $12.82
$14.33 $14.33
-10.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.35 $10.35
$14.88 $14.88
-30.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.08 $20.08
$19.34 $19.34
3.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$5.17 $5.17
-6.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.41 $4.41
-14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$4.51 $4.51
1.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.53 $2.53
-1.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.74 $2.74
-6.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.43 $2.43
-18.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.92 $9.92
$15.19 $15.19
-34.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.36 $13.36
$16.42 $16.42
-18.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.7 $3.7
-24.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.34 $3.34
3.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.42 $1.42
27.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.65 $28.65
$25.42 $25.42
12.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K $31.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 $178
$188 $188
-5.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6 $53.6
$63.7 $63.7
-15.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9 $67.9
$65.2 $65.2
4.08%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.84 $43.84
$76.7 $76.7
-42.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
$13.03 $13.03
-61.17%
Cinema Ticket
$13.91 $13.91
$14.93 $14.93
-6.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,216 $1,216
$2,063 $2,063
-41.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,071 $6,071
$39.2K $39.2K
-84.50%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 $54.5
$64.3 $64.3
-15.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9 $51.9
$52.4 $52.4
-0.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 $98.5
$95.2 $95.2
3.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 $1,149
$2,378 $2,378
-51.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 $1,043
$1,584 $1,584
-34.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,193 $2,193
$4,763 $4,763
-53.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,997 $1,997
$2,815 $2,815
-29.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,507 $2,507
$3,588 $3,588
-30.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,152 $2,152
$2,490 $2,490
-13.58%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Albuquerque, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,868 $3,868
$5,275 $5,275
-26.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

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

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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