Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Cruces, NM and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Cruces, NM and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Las Cruces, NM is 28.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Las Cruces, NM is 21.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75 $19.75
$20.82 $20.82
-5.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.17 $48.17
$100 $100
-51.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 $12.22
$11.97 $11.97
2.09%
Cappuccino
$5.17 $5.17
$5.56 $5.56
-7.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.11 $3.11
-13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.42 $2.42
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.85 $4.85
$6.86 $6.86
-29.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 $5.95
$8.45 $8.45
-29.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.04 $1.04
-26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 $2.42
$4.15 $4.15
-41.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$5.52 $5.52
-54.53%
Eggs
$3.17 $3.17
$4.65 $4.65
-31.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.42 $11.42
$14.33 $14.33
-20.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$14.88 $14.88
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.96 $11.96
$19.34 $19.34
-38.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$5.17 $5.17
-24.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.71 $1.71
-21.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$4.41 $4.41
-13.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 $2.44
$4.51 $4.51
-45.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.74 $2.74
-14.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.43 $2.43
-24.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.7 $2.7
-51.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 $8.53
$15.19 $15.19
-43.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.36 $9.36
$16.42 $16.42
-43.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.35 $2.35
-8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 $3.2
$3.7 $3.7
-13.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.53 $2.53
79.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.24 $32.24
$74.1 $74.1
-56.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 $1.61
$3.34 $3.34
-51.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.42 $1.42
99.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.82 $26.82
$25.42 $25.42
5.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.08 $1.08
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-26.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K $23.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-10.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 $126
$188 $188
-33.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3 $52.3
$63.7 $63.7
-17.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$65.2 $65.2
10.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.62 $38.62
$76.7 $76.7
-49.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.03 $19.03
$13.03 $13.03
46.05%
Cinema Ticket
$9.88 $9.88
$14.93 $14.93
-33.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$445 $445
$2,063 $2,063
-78.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,005 $7,005
$39.2K $39.2K
-82.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.8 $40.8
$64.3 $64.3
-36.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.41 $32.41
$52.4 $52.4
-38.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73 $73
$95.2 $95.2
-23.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$145 $145
-30.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$993 $993
$2,378 $2,378
-58.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$785 $785
$1,584 $1,584
-50.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,890 $1,890
$4,763 $4,763
-60.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 $1,449
$2,815 $2,815
-48.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,965 $1,965
$3,588 $3,588
-45.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,978 $1,978
$2,490 $2,490
-20.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Las Cruces, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,426 $3,426
$5,275 $5,275
-35.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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