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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,698 in Gallup, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,862 in Gallup, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,026 in Gallup, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 14% more than Gallup, NM, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Gallup, NM sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Gallup, NM by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.69 $19.69

5.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$60.2 $60.2

63.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.21 $12.21

-2.54%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$6.17 $6.17

-5.35%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.85 $2.85

7.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.24 $2.24

4.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.32 $6.32

8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.95 $6.95

16.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.14 $1.14

-7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.10 $4.10

-2.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.22 $3.22

73.91%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.15 $5.15

-11.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$16.47 $16.47

-13.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.72 $15.72

-5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$20.19 $20.19

-5.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.64 $5.64

-5.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.36 $1.36

25.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$6.62 $6.62

-35.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.24 $6.24

-29.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$5.67 $5.67

-54.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.56 $2.56

9.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.52 $1.52

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.30 $2.30

17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.63 $9.63

55.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$12.93 $12.93

13.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.11 $2.11

12.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.08 $4.08

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.95 $1.95

25.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.57 $3.57

-6.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.80 $1.80

-23.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.43 $29.43

-14.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$28.7K $28.7K

12.32%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$29.3K $29.3K

-9.76%

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

$188 $188

$196 $196

-4.10%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$44.36 $44.36

42.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$50.1 $50.1

32.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.70 $42.70

76.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.92 $14.92

-0.80%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,019 $1,019

105.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$15.6K $15.6K

146.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$48.20 $48.20

34.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$56.4 $56.4

-8.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$86.7 $86.7

10.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$110 $110

33.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,013 $1,013

130.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,374 $1,374

14.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,767 $1,767

170.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,260 $2,260

20.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,106 $3,106

29.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,478 $2,478

8.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$2,357 $2,357

111.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

32.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Gallup, NM: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,013 in Gallup, 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 111% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $60.0 in Gallup, NM. Groceries tell a different story – $445 in Chicago, IL vs $469 in Gallup, NM – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gallup, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,698 in Gallup, NM – roughly 14% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,048 in Gallup, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gallup, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $60.0 in Gallup, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Gallup, NM, where all-in costs run around $2,698, than in Chicago, IL at $3,084. In Gallup, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,698 in Gallup, NM to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Gallup, 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.