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 $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,083 in Las Cruces, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,168 in Las Cruces, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,253 in Las Cruces, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 49% 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 126%, Las Cruces, NM by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$17.80 $17.80

11.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$44.32 $44.32

99.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$12.08 $12.08

9.52%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.84 $5.84

0.34%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.49 $2.49

4.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.14 $2.14

8.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.39 $6.39

10.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.84 $8.84

4.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.58 $3.58

17.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.73 $3.73

47.45%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.67 $4.67

0.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$13.68 $13.68

7.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.35 $12.35

17.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$17.52 $17.52

12.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.40 $4.40

28.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.01 $2.01

-1.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.38 $3.38

19.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.03 $4.03

25.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.33 $2.33

26.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.37 $2.37

23.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.81 $1.81

25.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.91 $1.91

63.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.46 $9.46

71.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.94 $14.94

1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.37 $2.37

12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.50 $3.50

-0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.99 $0.99

156.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$39.40 $39.40

92.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.31 $2.31

36.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.33 $2.33

-41.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.87 $0.87

37.93%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

41.72%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

8.79%

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

$190 $190

$170 $170

11.34%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$58.3 $58.3

17.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$88.5 $88.5

-30.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$50.5 $50.5

26.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$10.82 $10.82

156.93%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$10.07 $10.07

81.53%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$681 $681

123.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$59.5 $59.5

7.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$32.50 $32.50

67.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$84.1 $84.1

19.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$101 $101

51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$961 $961

152.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$798 $798

111.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$1,732 $1,732

164.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,508 $1,508

84.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$1,972 $1,972

111.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,021 $2,021

35.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,650 $3,650

30.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.7

11.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $961 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 31% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $44.00 in Las Cruces, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $392 – 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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $2,083 in Las Cruces, NM – roughly 49% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,124 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 19% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $44.00 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 $2,083, than in Chicago, IL at $3,106. 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 $2,083 in Las Cruces, NM to $3,106 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.