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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Taos, NM is 15.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Taos, NM is 12.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.95 $16.95
$20.82 $20.82
-18.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5 $81.5
$100 $100
-18.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 $9.42
$11.97 $11.97
-21.30%
Cappuccino
$4.08 $4.08
$5.56 $5.56
-26.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$3.11 $3.11
-26.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.42 $2.42
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.94 $4.94
$6.86 $6.86
-27.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41 $5.41
$8.45 $8.45
-35.98%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.04 $1.04
1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.9 $2.9
$4.15 $4.15
-30.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$5.52 $5.52
-40.58%
Eggs
$3.94 $3.94
$4.65 $4.65
-15.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.45 $12.45
$14.33 $14.33
-13.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 $10.42
$14.88 $14.88
-29.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.39 $16.39
$19.34 $19.34
-15.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.8 $4.8
$5.17 $5.17
-7.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.71 $1.71
-19.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.8 $3.8
$4.41 $4.41
-13.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$4.51 $4.51
0.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.53 $2.53
-5.53%
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)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$15.19 $15.19
-35.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.57 $13.57
$16.42 $16.42
-17.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.7 $3.7
-26.49%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.34 $3.34
1.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.42 $1.42
25.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.31 $29.31
$25.42 $25.42
15.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-3.46%
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
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$188 $188
-5.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3 $52.3
$63.7 $63.7
-17.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$65.2 $65.2
3.47%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$93.5 $93.5
$76.7 $76.7
21.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 $9.14
$14.93 $14.93
-38.78%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,215 $1,215
$2,063 $2,063
-41.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,979 $5,979
$39.2K $39.2K
-84.74%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 $53.3
$64.3 $64.3
-17.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 $50.9
$52.4 $52.4
-2.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.4 $96.4
$95.2 $95.2
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.04%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 $1,668
$2,378 $2,378
-29.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,606 $1,606
$1,584 $1,584
1.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,429 $3,429
$4,763 $4,763
-28.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,984 $2,984
$2,815 $2,815
6.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,587 $4,587
$3,588 $3,588
27.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,534 $4,534
$2,490 $2,490
82.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Taos, NM
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,737 $2,737
$5,275 $5,275
-48.12%
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 Taos, NM: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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