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: $3,066 in Chicago, IL versus $2,001 in Alamogordo, NM.

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

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

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 53% more expensive than Alamogordo, NM, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$17.54 $17.54

17.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$50.8 $50.8

100.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$5.10 $5.10

135.88%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.56 $4.56

23.25%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.02 $2.02

51.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.97 $1.97

22.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.98 $4.98

40.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$4.41 $4.41

83.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.18 $1.18

-8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.38 $3.38

63.31%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.11 $5.11

-10.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$16.39 $16.39

-11.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$15.64 $15.64

-4.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$19.62 $19.62

-4.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.73 $5.73

-6.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.77 $1.77

-0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.90 $6.90

-36.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.96 $5.96

-26.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$6.00 $6.00

-57.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.65 $2.65

4.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.16 $2.16

13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.40 $2.40

10.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$9.52 $9.52

54.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.85 $15.85

-4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.10 $2.10

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.07 $4.07

-9.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.56 $3.56

-7.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.84 $1.84

-22.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$29.02 $29.02

-14.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$28.9K $28.9K

8.46%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

-9.31%

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

$187 $187

$115 $115

62.43%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$45.29 $45.29

37.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$66.6 $66.6

0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.86 $43.86

71.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

$22.35 $22.35

-41.07%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$10.85 $10.85

40.18%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,348 $1,348

51.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$15.3K $15.3K

156.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$57.0 $57.0

12.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$56.4 $56.4

-10.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$87.6 $87.6

8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$98.1 $98.1

46.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,027 $1,027

129.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$819 $819

97.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,622 $1,622

191.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,374 $1,374

100.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$1,712 $1,712

122.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,598 $1,598

61.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,745 $2,745

72.58%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Alamogordo, NM: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,355 in Chicago, IL and $1,027 in Alamogordo, NM. 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: $102 in Chicago, IL vs $51 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 53% in total monthly costs ($3,066 vs $2,001 including rent). Alamogordo, NM is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 73% 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: $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $1,027 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 $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,001 in Alamogordo, NM – 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.