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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,360 in San Marcos, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,292 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,524 in San Marcos, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,445 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,688 in San Marcos, TX.

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 33% more expensive than in San Marcos, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 128% above, San Marcos, TX 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$14.76 $14.76

32.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.9 $89.9

$59.5 $59.5

51.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.03 $13.03

$10.43 $10.43

24.93%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$4.73 $4.73

20.93%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$2.84 $2.84

-5.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.73 $1.73

32.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.86 $4.86

42.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$5.97 $5.97

27.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.76 $0.76

31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.33 $3.33

9.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.83 $3.83

22.98%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$2.81 $2.81

43.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$9.98 $9.98

51.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$9.42 $9.42

42.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$13.21 $13.21

50.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.28 $6.28

-20.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.13 $1.13

46.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$6.58 $6.58

-38.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.75 $4.75

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.01 $4.01

-29.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.00 $3.00

-7.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.78 $1.78

17.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.84 $1.84

33.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.52 $10.52

$8.82 $8.82

19.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$13.89 $13.89

7.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.75 $1.75

45.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.86 $3.86

-12.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$4.60 $4.60

-31.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.81 $1.81

-24.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.51 $22.51

$59.5 $59.5

-62.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.80 $0.80

25.00%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$35.5K $35.5K

2.92%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.0K $25.0K

1.89%

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

$193 $193

$133 $133

44.80%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$36.60 $36.60

62.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$52.7 $52.7

48.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$69.1 $69.1

77.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.05 $40.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$11.60 $11.60

27.84%

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

$1,559 $1,559

$674 $674

131.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$18.1K $18.1K

27.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 $64.1

$56.7 $56.7

13.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$37.57 $37.57

34.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$82.2 $82.2

25.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$122 $122

-0.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$1,251 $1,251

29.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,825 $2,825

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$2,215 $2,215

0.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,275 $3,275

$2,399 $2,399

36.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 $2,480

$1,853 $1,853

33.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,177 $6,177

$3,101 $3,101

99.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.03

5.80%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: August 30, 2026

Last update for San Marcos, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Des Plaines, IL pays 99% 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: $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $59.0 in San Marcos, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $431 vs $364 per month, with San Marcos, TX 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 San Marcos, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Plaines, IL and San Marcos, TX differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($3,139 vs $2,360 including rent). San Marcos, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 99% 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.

Childcare runs $1,559 in Des Plaines, IL versus $674 in San Marcos, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in San Marcos, TX – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,360 in San Marcos, TX versus $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Marcos, TX but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes San Marcos, TX 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.

Expats usually find San Marcos, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.