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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Santa Fe, NM is 20.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Santa Fe, NM is 18.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Santa Fe, 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
$80.1 $80.1
$100 $100
-20.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 $10.08
$11.97 $11.97
-15.79%
Cappuccino
$5.38 $5.38
$5.56 $5.56
-3.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.11 $3.11
-12.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.42 $2.42
-23.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.9 $5.9
$6.86 $6.86
-13.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 $7.13
$8.45 $8.45
-15.62%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.9 $2.9
$4.15 $4.15
-30.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$5.52 $5.52
-41.67%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.65 $4.65
-5.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.8 $12.8
$14.33 $14.33
-10.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 $10.42
$14.88 $14.88
-29.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.74 $19.74
$19.34 $19.34
2.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$5.17 $5.17
-6.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.71 $1.71
-19.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.41 $4.41
-16.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.51 $4.51
-3.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.53 $2.53
-5.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.74 $2.74
-10.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.43 $2.43
-15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.7 $2.7
-14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$15.19 $15.19
-34.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 $13.53
$16.42 $16.42
-17.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.35 $2.35
-26.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.7 $3.7
-24.86%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Santa Fe, 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)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.34 $3.34
5.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 $1.8
$1.42 $1.42
26.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.25 $29.25
$25.42 $25.42
15.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.48%
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
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$188 $188
-4.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.53 $45.53
$63.7 $63.7
-28.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9 $67.9
$65.2 $65.2
4.19%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.9 $86.9
$76.7 $76.7
13.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.63 $13.63
$14.93 $14.93
-8.71%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,238 $1,238
$2,063 $2,063
-40.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K $15.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-60.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 $54.6
$64.3 $64.3
-15.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52 $52
$52.4 $52.4
-0.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$95.2 $95.2
-8.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 $100
$145 $145
-30.64%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$2,378 $2,378
-7.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 $1,644
$1,584 $1,584
3.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,385 $4,385
$4,763 $4,763
-7.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 $2,603
$2,815 $2,815
-7.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,821 $5,821
$3,588 $3,588
62.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,047 $4,047
$2,490 $2,490
62.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Santa Fe, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,801 $3,801
$5,275 $5,275
-27.94%
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 Santa Fe, NM: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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