Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Des Plaines, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Des Plaines, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,558 in Des Plaines, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,846 in Des Plaines, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $5,133 in Des Plaines, IL.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than Des Plaines, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Des Plaines, IL 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$14.74 $14.74

34.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$81.5 $81.5

-8.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$11.21 $11.21

-10.53%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.33 $5.33

3.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.67 $2.67

4.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.34 $2.34

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.96 $5.96

1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.83 $6.83

14.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.94 $0.94

20.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$4.10 $4.10

-15.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.09 $5.09

-32.81%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$4.12 $4.12

6.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$13.98 $13.98

-12.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$13.47 $13.47

-19.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$16.40 $16.40

-12.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.37 $4.37

14.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.61 $1.61

-6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.26 $4.26

2.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.52 $4.52

-12.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.48 $2.48

10.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.70 $2.70

2.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.95 $1.95

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.98 $1.98

15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$14.28 $14.28

-38.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.05 $15.05

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.36 $2.36

-4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.70 $3.70

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.42 $4.42

0.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.43 $1.43

26.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$25.19 $25.19

40.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.10 $1.10

-32.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.56%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$170 $170

$186 $186

-8.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$50.8 $50.8

18.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$65.8 $65.8

1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$43.70 $43.70

40.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$39.41 $39.41

-75.06%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$15.06 $15.06

0.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,381 $1,381

$1,621 $1,621

-14.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

-10.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$65.5 $65.5

-13.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$49.03 $49.03

-6.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$95.0 $95.0

-9.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$132 $132

-9.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,598 $1,598

36.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,358 $1,358

4.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,584 $2,584

47.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,183 $2,183

24.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$3,208 $3,208

124.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$2,466 $2,466

31.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$6,236 $6,236

-21.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,598 in Des Plaines, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $82.0 in Des Plaines, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $411 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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

Austin, TX vs Des Plaines, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Plaines, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Des Plaines, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Des Plaines, IL earns 27% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,598 in Des Plaines, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $1,621 in Des Plaines, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Des Plaines, IL – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Des Plaines, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Des Plaines, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.