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

🙂 Solo nomad: Carlsbad, NM is 26.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Carlsbad, NM is 35.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.11 $19.11

$20.82 $20.82

-8.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.58 $49.58

$100 $100

-50.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$11.97 $11.97

1.50%

Cappuccino

$6.1 $6.1

$5.56 $5.56

9.71%

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

$2.06 $2.06

$3.11 $3.11

-33.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.42 $2.42

-47.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.86 $6.86

-25.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.18 $6.18

$8.45 $8.45

-26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.04 $1.04

-14.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 $2.45

$4.15 $4.15

-40.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$5.52 $5.52

-64.86%

Eggs

$3.56 $3.56

$4.65 $4.65

-23.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 $8.09

$14.33 $14.33

-43.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.89 $9.89

$14.88 $14.88

-33.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$19.34 $19.34

-37.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$5.17 $5.17

-42.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.1 $1.1

$1.71 $1.71

-35.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.41 $4.41

-7.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$4.51 $4.51

-44.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.53 $2.53

1.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.74 $2.74

-31.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.43 $2.43

-5.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.7 $2.7

-42.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.14 $12.14

$15.19 $15.19

-20.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.21 $15.21

$16.42 $16.42

-7.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.35 $2.35

-10.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.8 $4.8

$3.7 $3.7

29.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 $1.62

$3.34 $3.34

-51.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.6 $1.6

$1.42 $1.42

12.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.44 $27.44

$25.42 $25.42

7.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.08 $1.08

-31.48%

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

$18.6K $18.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-42.48%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.08%

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

$168 $168

$188 $188

-10.63%

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

$64.8 $64.8

$63.7 $63.7

1.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$65.2 $65.2

-2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.78 $42.78

$76.7 $76.7

-44.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 $11.58

$14.93 $14.93

-22.44%

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

$583 $583

$2,063 $2,063

-71.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,058 $7,058

$39.2K $39.2K

-81.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.92 $39.92

$64.3 $64.3

-37.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 $43.38

$52.4 $52.4

-17.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97 $97

$95.2 $95.2

1.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 $80.9

$145 $145

-44.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$2,378 $2,378

-31.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 $1,373

$1,584 $1,584

-13.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,585 $2,585

$4,763 $4,763

-45.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,215 $2,215

$2,815 $2,815

-21.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,444 $2,444

$3,588 $3,588

-31.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,140 $2,140

$2,490 $2,490

-14.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,149 $4,149

$5,275 $5,275

-21.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

6.6

-50.76%

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

Last update for Carlsbad, NM: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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