Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,100 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,607 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,286 in Des Plaines, IL versus $7,137 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,472 in Des Plaines, IL versus $9,667 in New York, NY.

Living in Des Plaines, IL costs roughly 33% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 126% above, New York, NY 236% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$24.80 $24.80

-18.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.2 $86.2

$139 $139

-38.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.90 $12.90

$12.74 $12.74

1.26%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$6.27 $6.27

-6.86%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.73 $3.73

-26.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.95 $2.95

-23.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$8.10 $8.10

-14.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.60 $7.60

$10.18 $10.18

-25.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.37 $1.37

-27.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$4.56 $4.56

-19.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$6.62 $6.62

-26.74%

Eggs

$4.02 $4.02

$5.75 $5.75

-30.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.16 $15.16

$16.18 $16.18

-6.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.03 $14.03

$14.60 $14.60

-3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.06 $19.06

$17.50 $17.50

8.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$5.84 $5.84

-16.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.16 $2.16

-25.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.89 $5.89

-28.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$6.15 $6.15

-19.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.35 $3.35

-14.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.04 $4.04

-36.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.73 $2.73

-21.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.45 $2.45

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.21 $14.21

$18.76 $18.76

-24.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$19.79 $19.79

-23.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.12 $3.12

-18.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.06 $4.06

1.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.09 $3.09

-34.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 $60.2

$142 $142

-57.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.07 $3.07

6.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.22 $2.22

-37.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.88 $19.88

$41.81 $41.81

-52.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.07 $1.07

-8.41%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

-0.09%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

0.20%

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

$192 $192

$232 $232

-17.50%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$73.0 $73.0

-17.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$76.4 $76.4

-0.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 $124

$120 $120

3.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.46 $40.46

$61.7 $61.7

-34.42%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$22.58 $22.58

-34.77%

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

$1,510 $1,510

$3,415 $3,415

-55.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$60.8K $60.8K

-61.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$71.4 $71.4

-10.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.86 $49.86

$52.3 $52.3

-4.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 $99.8

$115 $115

-12.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$125 $125

-2.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,680 $1,680

$4,270 $4,270

-60.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$2,851 $2,851

-43.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,547 $3,547

$8,755 $8,755

-59.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,241 $2,241

$5,244 $5,244

-57.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,175 $3,175

$19.0K $19.0K

-83.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,437 $2,437

$6,412 $6,412

-61.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,293 $6,293

$5,283 $5,283

19.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.41

-0.47%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: August 16, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,680 in Des Plaines, IL and $4,270 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $86.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $139 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $501 per month, with Des Plaines, IL 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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Plaines, IL and New York, NY differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($3,100 vs $4,607 including rent). Des Plaines, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% 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: $1,680 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,270 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Des Plaines, IL – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $139 in New York, NY. 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 49% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.