Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Las Cruces, NM

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 40.6% more expensive than Las Cruces, NM without rent, and 57.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 27.8% more expensive than Las Cruces, NM without rent, and 63.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.75 $19.75
5.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$48.17 $48.17
108.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.22 $12.22
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.17 $5.17
7.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.69 $2.69
15.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.87 $1.87
29.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.85 $4.85
41.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.95 $5.95
42.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.76 $0.76
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.42 $2.42
71.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.51 $2.51
119.92%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.17 $3.17
46.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.42 $11.42
25.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.54 $11.54
28.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.96 $11.96
61.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.91 $3.91
32.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.34 $1.34
27.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.82 $3.82
15.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.44 $2.44
84.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.33 $2.33
17.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.83 $1.83
32.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.32 $1.32
104.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.53 $8.53
78.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.36 $9.36
75.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.15 $2.15
9.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.2 $3.2
15.63%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.53 $4.53
-44.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$32.24 $32.24
129.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.61 $1.61
107.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.83 $2.83
-49.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$26.82 $26.82
-5.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.72 $0.72
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.9K $23.9K
35.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.5K $23.5K
11.80%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$126 $126
49.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.3 $52.3
21.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.1 $72.1
-9.52%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$38.62 $38.62
98.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.03 $19.03
-31.53%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.88 $9.88
51.11%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$445 $445
363.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$7,005 $7,005
459.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.8 $40.8
57.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.41 $32.41
61.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$73 $73
30.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$101 $101
43.41%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$993 $993
139.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$785 $785
101.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,890 $1,890
152.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,449 $1,449
94.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,965 $1,965
82.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,978 $1,978
25.90%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,426 $3,426
53.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: October 28, 2025

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