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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Lexington, KY is 11.5% cheaper than Des Plaines, IL without rent, and 13.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lexington, KY is 14% more expensive than Des Plaines, IL without rent, and 10.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.8 $14.8
$14.84 $14.84
-0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 $70.3
$81.2 $81.2
-13.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 $10.02
$10.91 $10.91
-8.16%
Cappuccino
$4.99 $4.99
$5.47 $5.47
-8.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.72 $2.72
-18.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.33 $2.33
-21.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.81 $4.81
$5.92 $5.92
-18.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 $8.09
$7.18 $7.18
12.67%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$0.87 $0.87
-10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.97 $3.97
-24.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$5.09 $5.09
-9.82%
Eggs
$3.24 $3.24
$4.01 $4.01
-19.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$13.81 $13.81
-6.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.37 $11.37
$13.53 $13.53
-15.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.31 $16.31
$16.24 $16.24
0.43%
Apples (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.37 $4.37
7.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.67 $1.67
-25.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 $3.63
$4.2 $4.2
-13.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$4.57 $4.57
-4.81%
Potato (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.54 $2.54
34.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.73 $2.73
21.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.03 $2.03
0.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.05 $2.05
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16 $8.16
$14.7 $14.7
-44.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 $13.07
$12.15 $12.15
7.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.3 $2.3
21.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$3.72 $3.72
-14.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.98 $1.98
-50.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.96 $29.96
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 $4.96
$4.37 $4.37
13.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.44 $1.44
15.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.63 $29.63
$24.7 $24.7
19.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.09 $1.09
-23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K $22.8K
$25K $25K
-8.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$25.5K $25.5K
1.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 $205
$187 $187
9.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.6 $71.6
$51.4 $51.4
39.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$67.4 $67.4
1.32%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.3 $35.3
$42.76 $42.76
-17.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.73 $29.73
$40.19 $40.19
-26.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.27 $15.27
$14.78 $14.78
3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,170 $1,170
$1,616 $1,616
-27.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K $24.9K
$24.2K $24.2K
2.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 $58.6
$64.1 $64.1
-8.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 $35.31
$48.05 $48.05
-26.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.8 $95.8
5.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 $156
$134 $134
16.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 $1,131
$1,598 $1,598
-29.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 $1,022
$1,341 $1,341
-23.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,088 $2,088
$2,622 $2,622
-20.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,685 $1,685
$2,228 $2,228
-24.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,059 $2,059
$3,167 $3,167
-35.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,986 $1,986
$2,466 $2,466
-19.47%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Lexington, KY
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,783 $3,783
$6,159 $6,159
-38.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
6.6
1.06%

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

Last update for Lexington, KY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.