Des Plaines, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Des Plaines, IL Summary

Cost of living in Des Plaines research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Des Plaines is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Des Plaines is 113, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Des Plaines is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Des Plaines ranks as the #238 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Des Plaines ranks as the #3,948 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Des Plaines is $336,330.

  • The median income in Des Plaines is $94,303.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
113
Des Plaines's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Des Plaines, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Des Plaines has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Des Plaines has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Des Plaines ranks as #238 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Des Plaines ranks as the #98 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Des Plaines, check out:

238 out of 336
In Illinois
3,948 out of 6,489
In America

Des Plaines Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Des Plaines. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Des Plaines is 108.

  • The Groceries index in Des Plaines is 105.

  • The Health index in Des Plaines is 107.

  • The Housing index in Des Plaines is 136.

  • The Transportation index in Des Plaines is 108.

  • The Utilities index in Des Plaines is 90.

Living Expense Des Plaines Illinois National Average
Overall 113 97 100
Services 108 95 100
Groceries 105 99 100
Health 107 93 100
Housing 136 95 100
Transportation 108 102 100
Utilities 90 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Des Plaines Cost of Living Vs. IL

Des Plaines, IL Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Des Plaines is $336,330.

  • The Median Rent in Des Plaines is $1,435.

  • The Median Income in Des Plaines is $94,303.

  • The Home Value To Income in Des Plaines is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Des Plaines is 0.18x.

Statistic Des Plaines Illinois United States
Median Home Value $336,330 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,435 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $94,303 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.6x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.21x
$336,330
Median Home Value
$1,435
Median Rent
$94,303
Median Income

Des Plaines, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Des Plaines Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Des Plaines Illinois
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $17.91 $12.13
Bowling $24.58 $18
Haircut $33.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.44 $45.56

Detailed Des Plaines Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Des Plaines Illinois
Ground Beef $5.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.87 $4.67
Potatoes $4.9 $4.93
Pizza $13.41 $12.09
Beer $10.0 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Des Plaines Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Des Plaines Illinois
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Des Plaines Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Des Plaines Illinois
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Des Plaines Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Des Plaines Illinois
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Des Plaines SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
6
Diversity
9
Safety
9
Amenities
9.5
Education
8
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Des Plaines

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Des Plaines. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Mount Prospect, IL has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Des Plaines.

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.3x Des Plaines.

  • Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 139, 1.2x Des Plaines.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Des Plaines
Mount Prospect, IL 55,648 122 1.1x
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.3x
Elmhurst, IL 45,538 139 1.2x
Buffalo Grove, IL 42,824 125 1.1x
Park Ridge, IL 39,241 138 1.2x
Northbrook, IL 34,642 153 1.4x
Niles, IL 30,262 117 1.0x
Highland Park, IL 30,229 148 1.3x
Wilmette, IL 27,550 164 1.5x
Morton Grove, IL 24,687 129 1.1x

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