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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,091 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,646 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,362 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,220 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,632 in Des Plaines, IL versus $5,794 in Austin, TX.

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 17% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 124% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.88 $19.88

1.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$84.0 $84.0

5.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.75 $12.75

$12.27 $12.27

3.91%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$5.63 $5.63

1.95%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.59 $3.59

-25.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.38 $2.38

-1.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.83 $7.83

-9.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 $7.35

$9.10 $9.10

-19.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.14 $1.14

-11.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.64 $3.64

1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$3.31 $3.31

45.62%

Eggs

$4.24 $4.24

$4.44 $4.44

-4.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.96 $14.96

$13.01 $13.01

14.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$14.69 $14.69

-6.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.38 $19.38

$17.42 $17.42

11.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.61 $4.61

8.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.45 $1.45

9.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.76 $4.76

-14.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.95 $4.95

2.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.01 $3.01

-5.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.74 $2.74

0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.95 $1.95

9.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.20 $2.20

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.86 $10.86

$9.26 $9.26

17.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$14.90 $14.90

2.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.87 $2.87

-11.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.59 $3.59

-1.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.65 $1.65

23.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.9 $60.9

$41.90 $41.90

45.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.82 $2.82

15.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.59 $1.59

-14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.20 $22.20

$34.68 $34.68

-35.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.95 $0.95

3.16%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

0.43%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.9K $26.9K

-7.77%

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

$195 $195

$229 $229

-14.90%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$58.6 $58.6

2.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 $77.0

$69.3 $69.3

11.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$65.8 $65.8

90.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.61 $39.61

$14.75 $14.75

168.54%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$13.86 $13.86

10.03%

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

$1,515 $1,515

$1,501 $1,501

0.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$20.9K $20.9K

12.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$53.7 $53.7

20.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 $51.5

$44.41 $44.41

15.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$90.8 $90.8

17.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$108 $108

11.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$1,265 $1,265

24.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$2,595 $2,595

-14.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,201 $3,201

$7,340 $7,340

-56.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,527 $2,527

$3,231 $3,231

-21.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,124 $6,124

$5,039 $5,039

21.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Des Plaines, IL pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $89.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $419 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Des Plaines, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Des Plaines, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $3,091 per month in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,646 in Austin, TX – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 45% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $3,091 in Des Plaines, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.