Des Plaines, IL vs Montgomery, IL

Des Plaines is moderately more affordable than Montgomery, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Des Plaines scores 105 compared to 116 for Montgomery, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Montgomery can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Des Plaines is $1,435/month compared to $1,897/month in Montgomery — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Des Plaines has cheaper rent, Montgomery actually has lower median home values ($270,700 vs $318,200).

Median household income in Des Plaines is $94,303 compared to $96,985 in Montgomery (-2.8%). Montgomery does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Des Plaines spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 23.5% in Montgomery.