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: $2,558 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,557 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,846 in Des Plaines, IL versus $7,115 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,133 in Des Plaines, IL versus $9,674 in New York, NY.

Living in Des Plaines, IL costs roughly 44% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 91% above, New York, NY 240% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.74 $14.74

$29.90 $29.90

-50.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$143 $143

-42.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$12.67 $12.67

-11.52%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$5.78 $5.78

-7.79%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$3.40 $3.40

-21.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.69 $2.69

-13.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$8.07 $8.07

-26.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$11.86 $11.86

-42.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.61 $1.61

-41.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.14 $5.14

-20.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$8.17 $8.17

-37.70%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$7.16 $7.16

-42.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.98 $13.98

$17.24 $17.24

-18.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.47 $13.47

$16.17 $16.17

-16.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.40 $16.40

$20.46 $20.46

-19.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$7.33 $7.33

-40.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.42 $2.42

-33.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$5.75 $5.75

-25.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$6.52 $6.52

-30.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.81 $3.81

-34.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.96 $3.96

-31.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.08 $3.08

-36.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.46 $2.46

-19.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.28 $14.28

$19.03 $19.03

-24.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$20.16 $20.16

-25.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.89 $2.89

-18.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.74 $3.74

-1.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.86 $2.86

-31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.97 $4.97

-11.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.24 $2.24

-36.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.19 $25.19

$42.20 $42.20

-40.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.96 $0.96

14.58%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$34.7K $34.7K

-26.91%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$28.1K $28.1K

-10.97%

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

$186 $186

$183 $183

1.74%

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

$50.8 $50.8

$59.5 $59.5

-14.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$63.4 $63.4

3.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.70 $43.70

$140 $140

-68.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.41 $39.41

$63.9 $63.9

-38.30%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 $15.06

$19.98 $19.98

-24.62%

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

$1,621 $1,621

$3,153 $3,153

-48.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$56.3K $56.3K

-56.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.5 $65.5

$67.7 $67.7

-3.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.03 $49.03

$48.48 $48.48

1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 $95.0

$115 $115

-17.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$170 $170

-21.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,598 $1,598

$4,113 $4,113

-61.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,358 $1,358

$2,651 $2,651

-48.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 $2,584

$8,230 $8,230

-68.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$5,113 $5,113

-57.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,208 $3,208

$19.3K $19.3K

-83.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,466 $2,466

$8,754 $8,754

-71.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,236 $6,236

$5,049 $5,049

23.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: April 26, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,598 in Des Plaines, IL and $4,113 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $82.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $143 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $553 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 78% in total monthly costs ($2,558 vs $4,557 including rent). Des Plaines, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Des Plaines, IL pays 24% more on average, 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: $1,598 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,113 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,621 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,153 in New York, NY. 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 $82.0 versus $143 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 78% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.