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: $2,637 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,732 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,806 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,139 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,975 in Des Plaines, IL versus $5,545 in Austin, TX.

Living in Des Plaines, IL costs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 98% above, Austin, TX 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.04 $15.04

$19.47 $19.47

-22.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$75.4 $75.4

5.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 $10.94

$9.89 $9.89

10.62%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.49 $5.49

-0.18%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.69 $2.69

0.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.13 $2.13

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.91 $5.91

4.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$7.87 $7.87

-9.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.15 $1.15

-18.26%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.34 $3.34

23.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.48 $3.48

46.84%

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$4.42 $4.42

-8.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.64 $13.64

$11.79 $11.79

15.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.36 $13.36

$10.65 $10.65

25.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$14.80 $14.80

12.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.79 $4.79

-6.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.57 $1.57

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.37 $4.37

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$4.01 $4.01

13.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.71 $2.71

-7.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.84 $2.84

-1.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.03 $2.03

-4.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.25 $2.25

-10.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.28 $14.28

$8.78 $8.78

62.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.03 $15.03

-0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.28 $2.28

1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.47 $3.47

3.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.53 $1.53

27.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.30 $4.30

3.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.82 $1.82

-20.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.66 $24.66

$35.23 $35.23

-30.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.73 $0.73

50.68%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

-3.29%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.5K $26.5K

-5.62%

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

$187 $187

$172 $172

8.44%

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

$51.5 $51.5

$58.4 $58.4

-11.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$66.1 $66.1

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.60 $43.60

$63.6 $63.6

-31.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.71 $39.71

$10.15 $10.15

291.23%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

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

$1,640 $1,640

$1,399 $1,399

17.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$22.0K $22.0K

9.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$56.6 $56.6

13.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.38 $47.38

$46.66 $46.66

1.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 $97.1

$86.4 $86.4

12.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$119 $119

10.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$2,228 $2,228

-28.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,399 $1,399

-3.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$3,821 $3,821

-31.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 $2,265

$2,648 $2,648

-14.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,181 $3,181

$7,237 $7,237

-56.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,478 $2,478

$3,127 $3,127

-20.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,301 $6,301

$5,009 $5,009

25.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,599 in Des Plaines, IL and $2,228 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $378 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

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.

Average pay runs 26% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,599 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,228 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,640 in Des Plaines, IL versus $1,399 in Austin, TX. 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 $80.0 versus $75.0 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.