Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Los Alamos, NM: $1,060 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $24,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
51

Cost of Living Index in Los Alamos, NM
Learn more

Los Alamos, NM Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Los Alamos, NM

🇺🇸 United States

$1,060

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Los Alamos, NM

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Los Alamos, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,060 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Los Alamos, NM $1,060

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,643 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Los Alamos, NM $1,643

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,227 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Los Alamos, NM $2,227

Chicago, IL costs about 196% more than Los Alamos, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Chicago, IL sits 132% above the global median, while Los Alamos, NM is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$16.75 $16.75

23.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$39.58 $39.58

127.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.82 $9.82

31.77%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.95 $4.95

13.13%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.52 $2.52

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.53 $1.53

48.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.91 $5.91

18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$6.89 $6.89

28.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.95 $0.95

33.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.16 $2.16

75.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.62 $4.62

14.72%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.01 $4.01

18.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$11.89 $11.89

17.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.74 $9.74

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.91 $17.91

4.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.87 $4.87

6.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.43 $1.43

38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.85 $2.85

37.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.36 $4.36

13.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.11 $1.11

148.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.34 $3.34

-17.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.05 $2.05

8.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$0.52 $0.52

473.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.00 $11.00

27.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.84 $13.84

10.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.46 $2.46

4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.65 $3.65

-4.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.61 $3.61

-7.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.94 $1.94

-26.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$32.32 $32.32

-24.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.94 $0.94

34.04%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

16.58%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.99%

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

$193 $193

$156 $156

23.25%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$40.31 $40.31

69.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$72.5 $72.5

-15.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.88 $12.88

37.73%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,480 $1,480

11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$25.0K $25.0K

24.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$20.09 $20.09

228.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$43.66 $43.66

17.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$102 $102

-2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$117 $117

20.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,101 $1,101

122.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,926 $1,926

144.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,369 $3,369

21.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$3,369 $3,369

-21.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$8,167 $8,167

-40.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Los Alamos, NM

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Los Alamos, NM

$342 32.3% 24% $108

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Los Alamos, NM

$282 26.7% 17.8% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Los Alamos, NM

$269 25.4% 16.5% $53

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Los Alamos, NM

$127 12% 21.1% $34

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Los Alamos, NM

$13 * 1.3% 86% $82

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Los Alamos, NM

$26 * 2.4% 71.2% $64

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,101 in Los Alamos, 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 68% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $342 – making Los Alamos, NM the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Los Alamos, NM

🕒 Local time

13:36 1:36 PM

12:36 12:36 PM

1 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

13,179

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Los Alamos, NM 1,740 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Los Alamos, NM

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Los Alamos, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $1,060 in Los Alamos, NM – roughly 196% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,589 in Los Alamos, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,060, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Los Alamos, 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 $1,060 in Los Alamos, NM to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Los Alamos, 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.