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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Des Plaines, IL is 7.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 3.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Des Plaines, IL is 15.1% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.84 $14.84
$19.64 $19.64
-24.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$76.2 $76.2
6.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 $10.91
$9.95 $9.95
9.65%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$5.61 $5.61
-2.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.64 $2.64
3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.19 $2.19
6.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$5.84 $5.84
1.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$7.92 $7.92
-9.34%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.13 $1.13
-23.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.3 $3.3
20.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$3.5 $3.5
45.43%
Eggs
$4.01 $4.01
$4.4 $4.4
-8.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.81 $13.81
$12 $12
15.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.53 $13.53
$10.68 $10.68
26.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$14.73 $14.73
10.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.88 $4.88
-10.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.52 $1.52
9.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.2 $4.2
$4.53 $4.53
-7.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$3.92 $3.92
16.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.72 $2.72
-6.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.76 $2.76
-1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.01 $2.01
1.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.18 $2.18
-5.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.7 $14.7
$8.86 $8.86
65.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 $12.15
$14.96 $14.96
-18.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.34 $2.34
-1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.44 $3.44
8.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.48 $1.48
33.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.3 $4.3
1.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.82 $1.82
-20.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.7 $24.7
$34.63 $34.63
-28.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.73 $0.73
49.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25K $25K
$25.5K $25.5K
-1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
-3.07%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$177 $177
5.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$58.9 $58.9
-12.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4 $67.4
$64.8 $64.8
3.89%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.76 $42.76
$62.6 $62.6
-31.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.19 $40.19
$10.17 $10.17
295.18%
Cinema Ticket
$14.78 $14.78
$14.72 $14.72
0.41%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$1,378 $1,378
17.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$22.4K $22.4K
8.27%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 $64.1
$56.3 $56.3
13.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.05 $48.05
$46.46 $46.46
3.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 $95.8
$86.7 $86.7
10.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$119 $119
13.00%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 $1,598
$2,188 $2,188
-26.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$1,395 $1,395
-3.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,622 $2,622
$3,896 $3,896
-32.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,228 $2,228
$2,689 $2,689
-17.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,167 $3,167
$4,414 $4,414
-28.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,466 $2,466
$3,161 $3,161
-21.98%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Des Plaines, IL
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,159 $6,159
$4,871 $4,871
26.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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