Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 17.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$25.11 $25.11

-17.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$118 $118

-15.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.84 $13.84

-13.51%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.8 $5.8

-4.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.95 $2.95

5.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.51 $2.51

-3.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.81 $7.81

-12.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.84 $7.84

7.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.34 $1.34

-22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.98 $4.98

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.35 $5.35

3.18%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.91 $6.91

-32.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$24.8 $24.8

-42.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.74 $15.74

-5.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.84 $20.84

-7.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.05 $6.05

-14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.75 $2.75

-37.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.47 $5.47

-19.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.45 $6.45

-30.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.11 $3.11

-18.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.69 $3.69

-25.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.78 $2.78

-12.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.52 $2.52

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.64 $11.64

30.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.15 $17.15

-4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.94 $2.94

-20.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.19 $4.19

-11.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.8 $2.8

-9.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$101 $101

-26.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.68 $2.68

24.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$30.13 $30.13

-15.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.16 $1.16

-6.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K $32.4K

$33.3K $33.3K

-2.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$271 $271

-30.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.7 $63.7

$61.8 $61.8

3.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$75.2 $75.2

-13.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$78.4 $78.4

-2.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$41.04 $41.04

-68.25%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.89 $15.89

-6.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$2,248 $2,248

-8.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$29K $29K

35.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$69.5 $69.5

-7.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$52.5 $52.5

-0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$120 $120

-20.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$142 $142

1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,376 $2,376

0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,829 $1,829

-13.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,702 $4,702

1.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,474 $3,474

-18.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$6,928 $6,928

-48.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,224 $5,224

-52.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,473 $6,473

-18.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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