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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,439 in Alamosa, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,504 in Alamosa, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,569 in Alamosa, CO.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than Alamosa, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Alamosa, CO 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$12.87 $12.87

62.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$49.66 $49.66

97.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.34 $8.34

42.21%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.34 $5.34

4.87%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.27 $2.27

35.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.51 $1.51

63.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.15 $6.15

16.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.90 $2.90

41.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.32 $3.32

68.98%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.45 $2.45

84.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$6.64 $6.64

114.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.33 $10.33

44.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$19.97 $19.97

-3.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.98 $4.98

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.41 $1.41

25.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.27 $3.27

34.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$1.67 $1.67

173.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.57 $0.57

345.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.12 $1.12

145.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.48 $1.48

63.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.29 $2.29

14.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.18 $10.18

46.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.89 $13.89

6.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.80 $1.80

36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.69 $2.69

38.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.94 $1.94

27.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.38 $3.38

-5.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.81 $1.81

-21.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$28.44 $28.44

-12.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.84 $0.84

26.19%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$30.7K $30.7K

3.88%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.34%

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

$185 $185

$138 $138

33.85%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$52.8 $52.8

16.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$67.3 $67.3

-0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.70 $43.70

72.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.68 $13.68

7.53%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,249 $1,249

61.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$5,969 $5,969

560.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$54.5 $54.5

18.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$51.0 $51.0

2.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$98.4 $98.4

-0.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$113 $113

31.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,571 $1,571

47.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,369 $1,369

16.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,608 $2,608

76.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,256 $2,256

23.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,717 $2,717

44.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,394 $2,394

9.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$7,739 $7,739

-32.58%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Alamosa, CO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,571 in Alamosa, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alamosa, CO pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $50.0 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 26% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $2,439 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 48% 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,571 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 $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,439 in Alamosa, CO – a 26% 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 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.