Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Clovis, NM: $2,017 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chicago, IL, United States
Clovis, NM, United States
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Clovis, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,017
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Clovis, NM

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Clovis, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,017 in Clovis, NM, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $3,037
  • Clovis, NM $2,017

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,893 in Clovis, NM, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $4,518
  • Clovis, NM $2,893

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,770 in Clovis, NM, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $5,999
  • Clovis, NM $3,770

Chicago, IL costs about 51% more than Clovis, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Clovis, NM sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Clovis, NM by 48%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.71 $20.71
$17.28 $17.28
19.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.2 $89.2
$78.8 $78.8
13.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.19 $13.19
$10.62 $10.62
24.20%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$5.48 $5.48
3.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.97 $2.97
-11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.31 $2.31
-1.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$5.38 $5.38
27.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.84 $8.84
$7.12 $7.12
24.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$0.69 $0.69
81.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.45 $4.45
-16.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$5.66 $5.66
-4.77%
Eggs
$4.74 $4.74
$4.23 $4.23
12.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.84 $13.84
$16.83 $16.83
-17.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.40 $14.40
$21.11 $21.11
-31.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.38 $18.38
$16.74 $16.74
9.80%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$3.28 $3.28
59.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.29 $1.29
53.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.99 $2.99
35.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.10 $2.10
136.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.53 $1.53
74.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.06 $2.06
29.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.81 $1.81
23.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.55 $2.55
22.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.82 $13.82
$10.91 $10.91
26.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.30 $16.30
-8.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.06 $2.06
23.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 $3.51
$4.08 $4.08
-13.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 $2.43
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 $73.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 $3.18
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.03 $25.03
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.01 $1.01
18.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$26.7K $26.7K
31.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$25.4K $25.4K
5.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$245 $245
-20.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$43.97 $43.97
57.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$94.3 $94.3
-34.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.90 $47.90
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.34 $27.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.81 $17.81
$17.83 $17.83
-0.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,794 $1,794
$1,323 $1,323
35.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K $31.9K
$15.2K $15.2K
110.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 $67.0
$61.3 $61.3
9.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 $52.1
$57.0 $57.0
-8.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$81.3 $81.3
24.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 $2,526
$961 $961
162.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,578 $1,578
$768 $768
105.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,738 $4,738
$1,320 $1,320
259.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,693 $2,693
$1,077 $1,077
149.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,190 $4,190
$1,405 $1,405
198.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,768 $2,768
$1,402 $1,402
97.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Clovis, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,931 $4,931
$5,173 $5,173
-4.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
4.75
43.37%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Clovis, NM: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
$1.6K
Clovis, NM
$768 51.3% $810
Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
$447
Clovis, NM
$442 1.3% $5.8
Eating Out
Chicago, IL
$345
Clovis, NM
$298 13.6% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
$326
Clovis, NM
$384 17.9% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
$164
Clovis, NM
$90 * 45.2% $74
Getting Around
Chicago, IL
$93
Clovis, NM
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
$84
Clovis, NM
$36 * 57.3% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $961 in Clovis, 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 5% higher in Clovis, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $79 in Clovis, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $442 – making Clovis, NM the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 Clovis, NM
🕒 Local time
16:07 4:07 PM
15:07 3:07 PM
1 h behind Chicago, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,746,388
38,567
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chicago, IL Clovis, NM 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chicago, IL
  • Clovis, NM

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Clovis, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and in Clovis, NM compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,017 in Clovis, NM – Clovis, NM comes out roughly 34% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to Clovis, NM?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,026 in Clovis, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chicago, IL and Clovis, NM?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Clovis, NM, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $961 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chicago, IL and Clovis, NM?
Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,323 in Clovis, NM. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chicago, IL or Clovis, NM?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,017 in Clovis, NM. That makes Clovis, NM about 34% cheaper.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,017 in Clovis, NM. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Chicago, IL or Clovis, NM?
Families tend to lean toward Clovis, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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