๐A single person spends $2,783 per month in Edgewood, NM vs $3,051 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $4,123 per month in Edgewood, NM vs $4,638 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $5,464 per month in Edgewood, NM vs $6,224 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
๐Edgewood, NM is about 9% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both Edgewood, NM and Chicago, IL sit above the global median โ Edgewood, NM by 108%, Chicago, IL by 128%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.31$20.31
$20.67$20.67
-1.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.7$99.7
$100$100
-0.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98$11.98
$11.86$11.86
1.01%
Cappuccino
$6.17$6.17
$5.54$5.54
11.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79$2.79
$3.06$3.06
-8.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$2.48$2.48
-8.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.42$6.42
$6.92$6.92
-7.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91$6.91
$8.13$8.13
-15.01%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19$1.19
$1.04$1.04
14.42%
White Bread(500g)
$4.07$4.07
$3.91$3.91
4.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$5.42$5.42
-40.41%
Eggs
$4.95$4.95
$4.48$4.48
10.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.25$16.25
$14.52$14.52
11.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.08$16.08
$15.21$15.21
5.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.64$19.64
$19.25$19.25
2.03%
Apples(1kg)
$5.80$5.80
$5.39$5.39
7.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82$1.82
$1.69$1.69
7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.99$6.99
$4.32$4.32
61.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.98$5.98
$4.51$4.51
32.59%
Potato(1kg)
$5.77$5.77
$2.56$2.56
125.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62$2.62
$2.70$2.70
-2.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.24$2.24
$2.41$2.41
-7.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32$2.32
$2.62$2.62
-11.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.09$15.09
$15.02$15.02
0.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.80$15.80
$14.71$14.71
7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$2.48$2.48
-18.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13$4.13
$3.69$3.69
11.92%
๐ Getting Around
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$2.55$2.55
-21.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.5$75.5
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$3.29$3.29
4.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.87$1.87
$1.43$1.43
30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33$29.33
$24.72$24.72
18.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.09$1.09
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K$28.7K
$31.8K$31.8K
-9.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$26.4K$26.4K
12.25%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$235$235
$183$183
28.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.80$43.80
$61.8$61.8
-29.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102$102
$65.0$65.0
57.20%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.03$43.03
$76.1$76.1
-43.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.04$13.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.29$18.29
$14.75$14.75
24.00%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,358$1,358
$2,056$2,056
-33.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K$15.6K
$38.5K$38.5K
-59.40%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7$57.7
$63.9$63.9
-9.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.3$57.3
$51.6$51.6
11.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0$87.0
$97.3$97.3
-10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9$98.9
$147$147
-32.79%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,605$1,605
$2,349$2,349
-31.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,364$1,364
$1,581$1,581
-13.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,620$2,620
$4,708$4,708
-44.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,211$2,211
$2,716$2,716
-18.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,655$2,655
$3,976$3,976
-33.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,341$2,341
$2,632$2,632
-11.06%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Edgewood, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,723$4,723
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Edgewood, NM: April 22, 2026
Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,605 in Edgewood, NM versus $2,349 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Edgewood, NM versus $100 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story โ $480 in Edgewood, NM vs $447 in Chicago, IL โ so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Edgewood, NM vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Edgewood, NM and Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,783 in Edgewood, NM, $3,051 in Chicago, IL โ roughly 10% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Edgewood, NM compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,174 per month in Edgewood, NM and $4,577 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Edgewood, NM and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Edgewood, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Edgewood, NM and $100 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chicago, IL โ one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both โ monthly costs hit $2,783 in Edgewood, NM and $3,051 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Edgewood, NM and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,783 in Edgewood, NM to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Edgewood, NM and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Edgewood, 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.
Edgewood, NM vs other spots: cost of living compared