Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Alamosa, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Alamosa, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,438 in Alamosa, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,525 in Alamosa, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,612 in Alamosa, CO.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than Alamosa, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Alamosa, CO 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$13.09 $13.09

57.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$48.63 $48.63

106.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.65 $8.65

37.11%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.42 $5.42

2.21%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.19 $2.19

39.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.49 $1.49

66.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.12 $6.12

13.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.12 $8.12

0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 $1.01

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.90 $2.90

34.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.32 $3.32

63.25%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$2.52 $2.52

77.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$6.65 $6.65

118.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$10.29 $10.29

47.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$20.34 $20.34

-5.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.70 $4.70

14.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.46 $1.46

15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.25 $3.25

32.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.61 $1.61

180.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.53 $0.53

383.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.08 $1.08

150.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.54 $1.54

56.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.29 $2.29

14.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.14 $10.14

48.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.05 $14.05

4.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.82 $1.82

36.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.82 $2.82

30.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.03 $2.03

25.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

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)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.13 $29.13

-15.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$31.4K $31.4K

1.14%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.05%

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

$183 $183

$139 $139

31.86%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$53.1 $53.1

16.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$68.6 $68.6

-5.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.58 $42.58

78.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$13.87 $13.87

6.34%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,236 $1,236

66.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$6,052 $6,052

536.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$52.8 $52.8

20.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$50.9 $50.9

1.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$97.4 $97.4

-0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$114 $114

29.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,613 $1,613

45.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,360 $1,360

16.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,629 $2,629

79.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,262 $2,262

20.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,778 $2,778

43.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,238 $2,238

17.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$7,642 $7,642

-38.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Alamosa, CO: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,613 in Alamosa, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alamosa, CO pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $49 in Alamosa, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $328 per month, with Alamosa, CO cheaper across the board.

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 Alamosa, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Alamosa, CO differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,438 including rent). Alamosa, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Alamosa, CO earns 62% 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,613 in Alamosa, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,438 in Alamosa, CO – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Alamosa, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Alamosa, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.