Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and San Marcos, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and San Marcos, TX

🙂 Solo nomad: Des Plaines, IL is 4.8% cheaper than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 1.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Des Plaines, IL is 5.1% cheaper than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.16 $15.16

$19.05 $19.05

-20.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$68.5 $68.5

17.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.94 $9.94

11.67%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$4.86 $4.86

9.05%

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

$2.72 $2.72

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.18 $2.18

8.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$6.14 $6.14

-1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 $6.91

$7.06 $7.06

-2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.89 $0.89

-3.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.96 $2.96

39.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.60 $3.60

43.33%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$3.86 $3.86

4.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.83 $13.83

$10.06 $10.06

37.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.46 $13.46

$11.94 $11.94

12.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.43 $16.43

$17.15 $17.15

-4.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.28 $4.28

1.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.21 $1.21

38.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.98 $3.98

4.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.54 $2.54

74.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.81 $2.81

-10.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.33 $2.33

21.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.77 $1.77

15.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.22 $2.22

-8.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.22 $14.22

$8.21 $8.21

73.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$12.55 $12.55

17.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.97 $1.97

19.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.73 $3.73

-4.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.98 $1.98

-1.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.78 $3.78

17.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.83 $1.83

-24.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.35 $25.35

$30.39 $30.39

-16.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.75 $0.75

40.00%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$32.8K $32.8K

-22.62%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

-1.93%

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

$185 $185

$192 $192

-3.72%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$64.0 $64.0

-20.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$65.4 $65.4

3.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.51 $43.51

$68.8 $68.8

-36.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.88 $39.88

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$15.05 $15.05

-0.93%

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

$1,624 $1,624

$674 $674

141.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$18.6K $18.6K

32.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 $64.7

$47.31 $47.31

36.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.41 $48.41

$43.57 $43.57

11.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$98.4 $98.4

-2.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$125 $125

8.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 $1,601

$1,366 $1,366

17.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,391 $1,391

-2.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 $2,670

$3,021 $3,021

-11.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 $2,191

$2,366 $2,366

-7.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,225 $3,225

$2,454 $2,454

31.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,527 $2,527

$1,884 $1,884

34.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,134 $6,134

$3,111 $3,111

97.19%

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: March 2, 2026

Last update for San Marcos, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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