Darien, IL vs Des Plaines, IL

Des Plaines is moderately more affordable than Darien, with a 12.1% lower cost of living index. Darien scores 118 compared to 105 for Des Plaines, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Darien can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Darien is $1,671/month compared to $1,435/month in Des Plaines — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Des Plaines is more affordable at $318,200 median vs $386,400.

Median household income in Darien is $109,354 compared to $94,303 in Des Plaines (+16%). While Darien is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Darien spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 18.3% in Des Plaines.