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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,998 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,192 in Lexington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,448 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,195 in Lexington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,899 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,197 in Lexington, KY.

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 37% more expensive than in Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 119% above, Lexington, KY 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$13.20 $13.20

53.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.9 $90.9

$57.7 $57.7

57.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.96 $12.96

$8.78 $8.78

47.61%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$5.20 $5.20

9.42%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.53 $2.53

7.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.02 $2.02

14.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$5.11 $5.11

35.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.40 $7.40

$6.18 $6.18

19.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.79 $0.79

25.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.76 $2.76

25.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$3.91 $3.91

17.14%

Eggs

$4.08 $4.08

$3.49 $3.49

16.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.24 $10.24

48.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$10.31 $10.31

25.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.68 $19.68

$14.08 $14.08

39.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.57 $5.57

-14.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.46 $1.46

13.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.53 $5.53

-24.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.38 $4.38

15.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$4.24 $4.24

-31.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.18 $3.18

-9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.13 $2.13

2.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.18 $3.18

-22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.62 $10.62

$8.62 $8.62

23.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

$13.12 $13.12

15.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.79 $2.79

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.19 $4.19

-16.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.99 $0.99

105.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 $60.2

$30.27 $30.27

98.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 $3.24

$4.92 $4.92

-34.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.36 $24.36

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.92 $0.92

3.26%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$36.5K $36.5K

-2.68%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.07%

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

$191 $191

$193 $193

-0.91%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$105 $105

-43.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.8 $78.8

$76.1 $76.1

3.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 $123

$32.20 $32.20

282.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.78 $40.78

$29.79 $29.79

36.89%

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 $15.02

$14.93 $14.93

0.60%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$1,674 $1,674

-9.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

-6.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$51.2 $51.2

24.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 $50.9

$30.71 $30.71

65.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$117 $117

-14.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$152 $152

-19.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 $2,084

$1,159 $1,159

79.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$937 $937

64.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,850 $3,850

$2,015 $2,015

91.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,461 $2,461

$1,531 $1,531

60.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,192 $3,192

$2,048 $2,048

55.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,516 $2,516

$2,044 $2,044

23.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,173 $6,173

$3,913 $3,913

57.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.18

3.24%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: September 15, 2026

Last update for Lexington, KY: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,084 in Des Plaines, IL and $1,159 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 58% 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: $91.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $58.0 in Lexington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $428 vs $385 per month, with Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Plaines, IL and Lexington, KY differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($2,998 vs $2,192 including rent). Lexington, KY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 58% 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: $2,084 in Des Plaines, IL versus $1,159 in Lexington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Des Plaines, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lexington, KY – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $91.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,192 in Lexington, KY versus $2,998 in Des Plaines, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lexington, KY but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Lexington, KY 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.

Safety-wise, Des Plaines, IL and Lexington, KY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lexington, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.