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 110, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Des Plaines has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Des Plaines ranks as #221 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Des Plaines ranks as the #115 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Des Plaines, check out:
Des Plaines Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Des Plaines. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Des Plaines is 101.
The Groceries index in Des Plaines is 100.
The Health index in Des Plaines is 138.
The Housing index in Des Plaines is 105.
The Transportation index in Des Plaines is 102.
The Utilities index in Des Plaines is 101.
| Living Expense | Des Plaines | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 138 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Des Plaines Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Des Plaines Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Des Plaines is $339,855.
The Median Rent in Des Plaines is $1,606.
The Median Income in Des Plaines is $97,875.
The Home Value To Income in Des Plaines is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Des Plaines is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Des Plaines | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $339,855 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,606 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $97,875 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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
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 121, 1.1x Des Plaines.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.3x Des Plaines.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.2x Des Plaines.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Des Plaines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Prospect, IL | 55,472 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.3x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.4x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.3x |
| Niles, IL | 30,064 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.5x |
| Morton Grove, IL | 24,619 | 128 | 1.2x |
