Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Taos, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Taos, NM

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.6% more expensive than Taos, NM without rent, and 6.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.5% more expensive than Taos, NM without rent, and 8.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.95 $16.95
22.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.5 $81.5
23.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.42 $9.42
27.07%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.08 $4.08
36.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.3 $2.3
35.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.87 $1.87
29.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.94 $4.94
38.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.41 $5.41
56.19%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.06 $1.06
-1.89%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.9 $2.9
43.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.28 $3.28
68.29%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.94 $3.94
18.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.45 $12.45
15.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.42 $10.42
42.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.39 $16.39
18.00%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.8 $4.8
7.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.38 $1.38
23.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.8 $3.8
16.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.54 $4.54
-0.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.39 $2.39
5.86%
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
$2.21 $2.21
22.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.82 $9.82
54.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.57 $13.57
21.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.74 $1.74
35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.72 $2.72
36.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.39 $3.39
-1.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.78 $1.78
-20.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.31 $29.31
-13.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.3K $31.3K
3.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.12%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$179 $179
5.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.3 $52.3
21.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.5 $67.5
-3.35%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$93.5 $93.5
-17.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.14 $9.14
63.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,215 $1,215
69.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$5,979 $5,979
555.25%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.3 $53.3
20.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$50.9 $50.9
2.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$96.4 $96.4
-1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,668 $1,668
42.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,606 $1,606
-1.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,429 $3,429
38.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,984 $2,984
-5.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$4,587 $4,587
-21.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,534 $4,534
-45.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Taos, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,737 $2,737
92.76%
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 Taos, NM: October 29, 2025

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