Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Santa Fe, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Santa Fe, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,951 in Santa Fe, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,190 in Santa Fe, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,429 in Santa Fe, NM, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 2% more than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Santa Fe, NM sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Santa Fe, NM by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$17.11 $17.11

18.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$80.2 $80.2

26.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.95 $9.95

20.40%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.30 $5.30

7.55%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.74 $2.74

9.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.86 $1.86

32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.82 $5.82

18.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.19 $7.19

12.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.02 $1.02

0.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.90 $2.90

36.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.14 $3.14

72.61%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.55 $4.55

-1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.42 $12.42

16.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.23 $10.23

45.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$19.67 $19.67

-3.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.94 $4.94

9.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.39 $1.39

27.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.85 $3.85

12.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.44 $4.44

2.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.38 $2.38

6.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.53 $2.53

11.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.03 $2.03

23.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.31 $2.31

15.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.80 $9.80

51.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$15.75 $15.75

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.79 $1.79

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.73 $2.73

29.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.98 $1.98

29.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.43 $3.43

-7.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.86 $1.86

-24.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$28.60 $28.60

-10.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.85 $0.85

22.35%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$29.3K $29.3K

9.85%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

5.68%

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

$184 $184

$179 $179

2.49%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$45.07 $45.07

40.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$67.5 $67.5

-1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$86.1 $86.1

-11.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$13.54 $13.54

12.63%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,255 $1,255

66.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$15.4K $15.4K

154.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$52.7 $52.7

21.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$50.7 $50.7

0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$87.7 $87.7

10.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$102 $102

46.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$2,144 $2,144

9.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,648 $1,648

-4.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$4,407 $4,407

7.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,598 $2,598

8.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$6,948 $6,948

-43.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$4,045 $4,045

-34.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,722 $3,722

28.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Santa Fe, NM: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $2,144 in Santa Fe, 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 28% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $80.0 in Santa Fe, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $382 – making Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,951 in Santa Fe, NM – roughly 2% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,427 in Santa Fe, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Fe, 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 $102 in Chicago, IL and $80.0 in Santa Fe, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,951 in Santa Fe, NM. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,951 in Santa Fe, NM to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Fe, 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.