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 40.4% more expensive than Las Cruces, NM without rent, and 60.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.4% more expensive than Las Cruces, NM without rent, and 62.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$19.72 $19.72
1.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$47.53 $47.53
114.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$12.05 $12.05
-0.25%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.42 $5.42
3.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.72 $2.72
10.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.86 $1.86
26.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.99 $4.99
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.96 $5.96
41.78%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.73 $0.73
49.32%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.42 $2.42
70.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$2.53 $2.53
120.16%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.05 $3.05
47.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$11.10 $11.10
29.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.56 $11.56
29.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$11.92 $11.92
59.23%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$3.95 $3.95
31.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.31 $1.31
35.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.64 $3.64
19.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.50 $2.50
81.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.98 $1.98
28.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.23 $2.23
21.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.81 $1.81
37.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.27 $1.27
107.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$8.44 $8.44
79.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$8.37 $8.37
78.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.04 $2.04
21.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.18 $3.18
15.09%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$4.52 $4.52
-43.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$32.49 $32.49
128.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$1.69 $1.69
95.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.81 $2.81
-51.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$26.84 $26.84
-7.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.78 $0.78
35.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$23.6K $23.6K
33.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
10.73%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$129 $129
44.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$51.7 $51.7
21.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$70.0 $70.0
-5.98%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$38.34 $38.34
96.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$18.84 $18.84
-31.26%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$10.11 $10.11
49.65%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$455 $455
354.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$6,961 $6,961
456.92%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$39.66 $39.66
61.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$32.09 $32.09
58.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$73.1 $73.1
33.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$99.8 $99.8
43.89%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$966 $966
142.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$778 $778
107.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,898 $1,898
150.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,437 $1,437
92.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$1,965 $1,965
91.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,016 $2,016
29.64%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Las Cruces, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,627 $3,627
38.03%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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