Des Plaines, IL vs Rolling Meadows, IL

Des Plaines, IL and Rolling Meadows, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Des Plaines scores 105 while Rolling Meadows scores 108 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Des Plaines is $1,435/month compared to $1,563/month in Rolling Meadows — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Des Plaines has cheaper rent, Rolling Meadows actually has lower median home values ($299,700 vs $318,200).

Median household income in Des Plaines is $94,303 compared to $100,424 in Rolling Meadows (-6.1%). While Rolling Meadows is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Des Plaines spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in Rolling Meadows.