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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 36.2% more expensive than Carlsbad, NM without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 54.9% more expensive than Carlsbad, NM without rent, and 35.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.11 $19.11

8.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$49.58 $49.58

102.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.15 $12.15

-1.48%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.1 $6.1

-8.85%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.06 $2.06

50.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.26 $1.26

92.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.11 $5.11

34.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.18 $6.18

36.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.89 $0.89

16.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.45 $2.45

69.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.94 $1.94

184.54%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.56 $3.56

30.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$8.09 $8.09

77.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.89 $9.89

50.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.14 $12.14

59.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.96 $2.96

74.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.1 $1.1

55.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.09 $4.09

7.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.52 $2.52

78.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.56 $2.56

-1.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.88 $1.88

45.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.29 $2.29

6.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.54 $1.54

75.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.14 $12.14

25.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.21 $15.21

7.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.11 $2.11

11.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.8 $4.8

-22.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.62 $1.62

106.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.6 $1.6

-11.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.44 $27.44

-7.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.74 $0.74

45.95%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$18.6K $18.6K

73.85%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.26%

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

$188 $188

$168 $168

11.90%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$64.8 $64.8

-1.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.4 $63.4

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.78 $42.78

79.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.58 $11.58

28.93%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$583 $583

253.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$7,058 $7,058

455.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$39.92 $39.92

61.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$43.38 $43.38

20.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$97 $97

-1.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$80.9 $80.9

78.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,620 $1,620

46.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,373 $1,373

15.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,585 $2,585

84.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,215 $2,215

27.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,444 $2,444

46.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,140 $2,140

16.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,149 $4,149

27.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

3.25

103.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Carlsbad, NM: October 29, 2025

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