Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Lexington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Lexington, KY

😐 Solo nomad: Des Plaines, IL is 13% more expensive than Lexington, KY without rent, and 15.5% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Des Plaines, IL is 12.3% cheaper than Lexington, KY without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.84 $14.84
$14.8 $14.8
0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 $81.2
$70.3 $70.3
15.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 $10.91
$10.02 $10.02
8.88%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$4.99 $4.99
9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.23 $2.23
21.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.82 $1.82
28.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$4.81 $4.81
23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$8.09 $8.09
-11.25%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$0.78 $0.78
11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.98 $2.98
33.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$4.59 $4.59
10.89%
Eggs
$4.01 $4.01
$3.24 $3.24
23.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.81 $13.81
$12.91 $12.91
6.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.53 $13.53
$11.37 $11.37
19.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$16.31 $16.31
-0.43%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.68 $4.68
-6.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.25 $1.25
33.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.2 $4.2
$3.63 $3.63
15.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$4.35 $4.35
5.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.41 $3.41
-25.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.32 $3.32
-17.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.04 $2.04
-0.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.8 $1.8
13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.7 $14.7
$8.16 $8.16
80.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 $12.15
$13.07 $13.07
-7.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.79 $2.79
-17.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.17 $3.17
17.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.98 $0.98
102.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.96 $29.96
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.96 $4.96
-11.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.67 $1.67
-13.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.7 $24.7
$29.63 $29.63
-16.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.83 $0.83
31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25K $25K
$22.8K $22.8K
9.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$25.9K $25.9K
-1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$205 $205
-8.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$71.6 $71.6
-28.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4 $67.4
$68.3 $68.3
-1.30%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.76 $42.76
$35.3 $35.3
21.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.19 $40.19
$29.73 $29.73
35.18%
Cinema Ticket
$14.78 $14.78
$15.27 $15.27
-3.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$1,170 $1,170
38.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
-2.84%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 $64.1
$58.6 $58.6
9.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.05 $48.05
$35.31 $35.31
36.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 $95.8
$101 $101
-4.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$156 $156
-13.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 $1,598
$1,131 $1,131
41.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$1,022 $1,022
31.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,622 $2,622
$2,088 $2,088
25.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,228 $2,228
$1,685 $1,685
32.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,167 $3,167
$2,059 $2,059
53.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,466 $2,466
$1,986 $1,986
24.18%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Des Plaines, IL
Lexington, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,159 $6,159
$3,783 $3,783
62.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

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 Lexington, KY: October 28, 2025

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