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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,053 in Alamogordo, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,067 in Alamogordo, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,081 in Alamogordo, NM.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 50% more expensive than Alamogordo, NM, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Alamogordo, NM 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$17.22 $17.22

21.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$49.97 $49.97

96.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$5.05 $5.05

134.85%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.48 $4.48

25.00%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.05 $2.05

49.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.96 $1.96

26.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.07 $5.07

40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$4.42 $4.42

82.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.18 $1.18

-11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.15 $4.15

-0.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.29 $3.29

70.52%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.94 $4.94

-8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.18 $16.18

-11.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$15.82 $15.82

-5.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$19.46 $19.46

-1.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.80 $5.80

-11.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.81 $1.81

-2.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.69 $6.69

-34.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.06 $6.06

-24.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$6.01 $6.01

-57.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.67 $2.67

3.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.15 $2.15

12.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.27 $2.27

15.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.78 $9.78

52.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$16.03 $16.03

-7.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.05 $2.05

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.12 $4.12

-9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.02 $2.02

22.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.52 $3.52

-9.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.81 $1.81

-21.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.34 $29.34

-15.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.76 $0.76

39.47%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.6K $28.6K

11.55%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.0K $29.0K

-10.20%

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

$185 $185

$114 $114

62.45%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$44.87 $44.87

37.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$66.8 $66.8

0.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.77 $43.77

71.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$22.29 $22.29

-41.32%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$11.14 $11.14

32.05%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,357 $1,357

48.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$15.4K $15.4K

155.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$58.7 $58.7

9.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$57.3 $57.3

-8.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$87.1 $87.1

12.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$102 $102

44.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,059 $1,059

118.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$812 $812

95.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,638 $1,638

181.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,372 $1,372

102.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,662 $1,662

135.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,583 $1,583

65.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$2,787 $2,787

87.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

10.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Alamogordo, NM: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,059 in Alamogordo, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 87% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $50.0 in Alamogordo, NM. Groceries flip the comparison at $447 vs $479, 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

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

Chicago, IL and Alamogordo, NM differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $2,053 including rent). Alamogordo, NM is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 87% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,059 in Alamogordo, NM. 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 $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,053 in Alamogordo, NM – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,053 in Alamogordo, NM versus $3,077 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 50% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.