Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Los Alamos, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Los Alamos, NM

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33.6% more expensive than Los Alamos, NM without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 60.4% more expensive than Los Alamos, NM without rent, and 33.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.38 $17.38
19.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.1 $60.1
66.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.19 $10.19
17.47%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.24 $5.24
6.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.28 $2.28
36.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.47 $1.47
64.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.09 $6.09
12.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.87 $5.87
43.95%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.96 $0.96
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.24 $2.24
85.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.22 $3.22
71.43%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.93 $3.93
18.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.55 $12.55
14.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.4 $10.4
43.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.78 $17.78
8.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.92 $4.92
5.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.39 $1.39
23.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.99 $2.99
47.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.29 $4.29
5.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.11 $1.11
127.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.52 $2.52
8.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.94 $1.94
25.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$0.52 $0.52
419.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.88 $9.88
53.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.35 $13.35
23.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.76 $2.76
34.06%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.56 $3.56
-6.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.81 $1.81
-21.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.47 $29.47
-13.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.2K $31.2K
3.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$166 $166
13.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$39.68 $39.68
60.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.3 $68.3
-4.55%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.23 $42.23
81.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.81 $13.81
8.11%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,227 $1,227
68.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$5,934 $5,934
560.25%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$20.29 $20.29
216.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$51.2 $51.2
2.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.5 $98.5
-3.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$115 $115
25.54%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,088 $1,088
118.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,367 $1,367
15.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,921 $1,921
147.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,263 $2,263
24.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,361 $3,361
6.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,363 $3,363
-25.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,532 $7,532
-29.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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 Los Alamos, NM: October 28, 2025

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