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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,457 in Artesia, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,555 in Artesia, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,654 in Artesia, NM.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Artesia, NM 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$16.22 $16.22

28.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$47.65 $47.65

105.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.04 $12.04

-1.50%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.26 $6.26

-10.54%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.74 $2.74

12.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.85 $1.85

33.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.09 $5.09

40.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.09 $6.09

32.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.88 $0.88

19.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.52 $2.52

63.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.63 $2.63

113.31%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.53 $3.53

27.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$11.35 $11.35

25.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.34 $11.34

31.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$12.06 $12.06

59.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.05 $4.05

26.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.27 $1.27

39.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.20 $4.20

4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.32 $4.32

5.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.48 $3.48

-27.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.93 $2.93

-6.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.29 $2.29

5.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.53 $1.53

71.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.88 $11.88

25.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.17 $8.17

81.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.15 $2.15

14.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.60 $4.60

-18.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.62 $1.62

96.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$27.49 $27.49

-9.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.72 $0.72

47.22%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

36.91%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.55%

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

$185 $185

$151 $151

22.23%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$63.0 $63.0

-2.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$71.9 $71.9

-6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.57 $43.57

72.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$7.79 $7.79

88.83%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$573 $573

252.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$6,832 $6,832

476.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$36.97 $36.97

74.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.67 $40.67

28.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$86.5 $86.5

13.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$81.5 $81.5

81.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,583 $1,583

46.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,345 $1,345

18.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,665 $2,665

72.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,253 $2,253

23.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,660 $2,660

47.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,330 $2,330

12.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,473 $3,473

50.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Artesia, NM: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,583 in Artesia, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 50% 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 $48.00 in Artesia, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $332 per month, with Artesia, NM 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 Artesia, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Artesia, NM wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artesia, NM the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chicago, IL pays 50% 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 $1,583 in Artesia, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $573 in Artesia, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Artesia, NM – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Artesia, NM is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Artesia, NM delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,457 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artesia, NM hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Artesia, NM 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.