Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Des Plaines, IL is 19.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Des Plaines, IL is 26.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.84 $14.84
$20.82 $20.82
-28.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$100 $100
-19.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 $10.91
$11.97 $11.97
-8.86%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$5.56 $5.56
-1.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.11 $3.11
-12.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.42 $2.42
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$6.86 $6.86
-13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$8.45 $8.45
-15.03%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.04 $1.04
-16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.97 $3.97
$4.15 $4.15
-4.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$5.52 $5.52
-7.79%
Eggs
$4.01 $4.01
$4.65 $4.65
-13.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.81 $13.81
$14.33 $14.33
-3.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.53 $13.53
$14.88 $14.88
-9.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$19.34 $19.34
-16.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.17 $5.17
-15.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.71 $1.71
-2.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.2 $4.2
$4.41 $4.41
-4.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$4.51 $4.51
1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.53 $2.53
0.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.74 $2.74
-0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.7 $2.7
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.7 $14.7
$15.19 $15.19
-3.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 $12.15
$16.42 $16.42
-26.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.35 $2.35
-2.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.7 $3.7
0.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.34 $3.34
30.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.42 $1.42
1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.7 $24.7
$25.42 $25.42
-2.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.08 $1.08
0.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25K $25K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$188 $188
-0.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$63.7 $63.7
-19.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4 $67.4
$65.2 $65.2
3.31%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.76 $42.76
$76.7 $76.7
-44.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.19 $40.19
$13.03 $13.03
208.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.78 $14.78
$14.93 $14.93
-1.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$2,063 $2,063
-21.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.13%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 $64.1
$64.3 $64.3
-0.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.05 $48.05
$52.4 $52.4
-8.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 $95.8
$95.2 $95.2
0.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$145 $145
-7.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 $1,598
$2,378 $2,378
-32.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$1,584 $1,584
-15.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,622 $2,622
$4,763 $4,763
-44.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,228 $2,228
$2,815 $2,815
-20.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,167 $3,167
$3,588 $3,588
-11.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,466 $2,466
$2,490 $2,490
-0.96%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Des Plaines, IL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,159 $6,159
$5,275 $5,275
16.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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