Comparación del coste de vida entre Chicago, IL y Carlsbad, NM Comparación del coste de vida entre Chicago, IL y Carlsbad, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,407 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,498 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,589 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Carlsbad, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Carlsbad, NM sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Carlsbad, NM by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$19.31 $19.31

5.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$50.2 $50.2

102.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.02 $12.02

-0.33%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$6.42 $6.42

-11.21%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$1.97 $1.97

52.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.32 $1.32

86.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.95 $4.95

38.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$5.92 $5.92

36.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.90 $0.90

14.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.51 $2.51

57.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.97 $1.97

175.13%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.67 $3.67

22.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$7.94 $7.94

83.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.20 $10.20

45.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$11.83 $11.83

60.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.96 $2.96

82.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.10 $1.10

60.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.18 $4.18

4.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.56 $2.56

76.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.48 $2.48

2.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.93 $1.93

45.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.26 $2.26

11.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.46 $1.46

82.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.23 $12.23

21.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$8.38 $8.38

81.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.09 $2.09

17.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.76 $4.76

-25.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.04 $2.04

25.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.61 $1.61

98.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.57 $1.57

-10.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$27.28 $27.28

-6.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.73 $0.73

42.47%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$19.3K $19.3K

66.72%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.0K $25.0K

6.88%

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

$184 $184

$169 $169

8.91%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$65.0 $65.0

-2.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$63.3 $63.3

4.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$43.25 $43.25

75.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$11.94 $11.94

27.72%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$579 $579

260.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$6,879 $6,879

470.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$39.57 $39.57

62.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$43.45 $43.45

17.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$98.8 $98.8

-1.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$80.5 $80.5

84.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,609 $1,609

45.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,347 $1,347

16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,595 $2,595

82.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,256 $2,256

24.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$1,868 $1,868

108.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$1,845 $1,845

42.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$4,152 $4,152

14.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

3.25

103.08%

Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.

Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Última actualización para Carlsbad, NM: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,609 in Carlsbad, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $50.0 in Carlsbad, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $292 – making Carlsbad, NM the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)

El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.

Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales

Chicago, IL vs Carlsbad, NM: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,407 in Carlsbad, NM – roughly 25% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,610 in Carlsbad, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Carlsbad, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $50.0 in Carlsbad, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,407 in Carlsbad, NM. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,407 in Carlsbad, NM to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Carlsbad, NM. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.