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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,915 in Las Cruces, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,862 in Las Cruces, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,809 in Las Cruces, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 63% more than Las Cruces, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Las Cruces, NM sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Las Cruces, NM by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$19.85 $19.85

1.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$48.44 $48.44

108.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$11.98 $11.98

0.92%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.43 $5.43

5.89%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.72 $2.72

9.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.94 $1.94

26.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.14 $5.14

36.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$6.02 $6.02

37.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.44 $2.44

69.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.54 $2.54

111.81%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$3.05 $3.05

48.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$11.07 $11.07

28.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.43 $11.43

31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$12.25 $12.25

53.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.99 $3.99

28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.32 $1.32

28.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.64 $3.64

16.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.39 $2.39

85.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.07 $2.07

24.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.28 $2.28

19.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.82 $1.82

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.27 $1.27

106.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$8.20 $8.20

81.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.05 $2.05

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.29 $3.29

13.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$4.40 $4.40

-43.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

$32.13 $32.13

129.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$1.70 $1.70

94.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.89 $2.89

-52.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$26.97 $26.97

-7.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.72 $0.72

45.83%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$23.2K $23.2K

40.75%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

10.81%

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

$187 $187

$128 $128

46.38%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$52.8 $52.8

20.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$70.5 $70.5

-6.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$38.35 $38.35

101.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

$18.77 $18.77

-31.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$9.98 $9.98

51.80%

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

$2,029 $2,029

$454 $454

347.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$7,063 $7,063

447.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$39.29 $39.29

61.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$31.65 $31.65

64.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$73.7 $73.7

30.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$101 $101

46.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$974 $974

140.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$765 $765

111.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$1,884 $1,884

144.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$1,446 $1,446

91.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$2,008 $2,008

95.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$1,989 $1,989

28.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

$3,602 $3,602

43.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 14, 2026

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $974 in Las Cruces, 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 44% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $48.00 in Las Cruces, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $446 vs $316 – making Las Cruces, NM the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Las Cruces, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $1,915 in Las Cruces, NM – roughly 63% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,873 in Las Cruces, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 41% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL and $48.00 in Las Cruces, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Cruces, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,915, than in Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Las Cruces, 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 $1,915 in Las Cruces, NM to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Las Cruces, 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.