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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Los Alamos, NM is 25.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Los Alamos, NM is 37.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.38 $17.38
$20.82 $20.82
-16.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 $60.1
$100 $100
-40.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 $10.19
$11.97 $11.97
-14.87%
Cappuccino
$5.24 $5.24
$5.56 $5.56
-5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$3.11 $3.11
-26.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.42 $2.42
-39.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$6.86 $6.86
-11.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87 $5.87
$8.45 $8.45
-30.53%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.04 $1.04
-7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.24 $2.24
$4.15 $4.15
-46.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$5.52 $5.52
-41.67%
Eggs
$3.93 $3.93
$4.65 $4.65
-15.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.55 $12.55
$14.33 $14.33
-12.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.4 $10.4
$14.88 $14.88
-30.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.78 $17.78
$19.34 $19.34
-8.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$5.17 $5.17
-4.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.71 $1.71
-18.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$4.41 $4.41
-32.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.51 $4.51
-4.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.53 $2.53
-56.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.74 $2.74
-8.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.43 $2.43
-20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 $0.52
$2.7 $2.7
-80.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$15.19 $15.19
-34.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 $13.35
$16.42 $16.42
-18.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.7 $3.7
-25.41%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.34 $3.34
6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.42 $1.42
27.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.47 $29.47
$25.42 $25.42
15.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K $31.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-3.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.75%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 $166
$188 $188
-11.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.68 $39.68
$63.7 $63.7
-37.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$65.2 $65.2
4.77%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.23 $42.23
$76.7 $76.7
-44.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.81 $13.81
$14.93 $14.93
-7.50%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$2,063 $2,063
-40.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,934 $5,934
$39.2K $39.2K
-84.85%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.29 $20.29
$64.3 $64.3
-68.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$52.4 $52.4
-2.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 $98.5
$95.2 $95.2
3.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$145 $145
-20.34%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 $1,088
$2,378 $2,378
-54.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 $1,367
$1,584 $1,584
-13.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 $1,921
$4,763 $4,763
-59.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,263 $2,263
$2,815 $2,815
-19.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,361 $3,361
$3,588 $3,588
-6.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,363 $3,363
$2,490 $2,490
35.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Los Alamos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,532 $7,532
$5,275 $5,275
42.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.6
-1.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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