Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,178 in Sequim, WA, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Sequim, WA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Sequim, WA
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Sequim, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Sequim, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,178

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Sequim, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Sequim, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,178 in Sequim, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Sequim, WA $3,178

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,615 in Sequim, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Sequim, WA $4,615

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,052 in Sequim, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Sequim, WA $6,052

Chicago, IL is about 4% cheaper than Sequim, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Chicago, IL and Sequim, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Sequim, WA by 134%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$24.86 $24.86

-16.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$73.7 $73.7

21.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.69 $12.69

3.94%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.18 $5.18

9.27%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.14 $2.14

23.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.62 $1.62

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.07 $6.07

13.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.10 $7.10

24.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.07 $1.07

16.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.51 $3.51

5.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.04 $4.04

33.42%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.95 $3.95

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$13.98 $13.98

-1.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.45 $13.45

7.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$26.28 $26.28

-30.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.12 $5.12

1.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.90 $1.90

4.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.04 $4.04

0.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.81 $4.81

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.85 $1.85

44.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.42 $2.42

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.80 $2.80

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.40 $2.40

30.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$12.13 $12.13

13.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.30 $15.30

-2.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.76 $2.76

27.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.46 $1.46

66.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$40.62 $40.62

81.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.31 $1.31

-8.40%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

23.63%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-1.36%

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

$194 $194

$291 $291

-33.29%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$49.67 $49.67

39.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$85.2 $85.2

-27.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$70.1 $70.1

-31.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$16.92 $16.92

5.26%

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

$1,794 $1,794

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$39.80 $39.80

68.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$49.22 $49.22

5.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$101 $101

0.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$121 $121

18.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,933 $1,933

30.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,663 $1,663

-5.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,159 $3,159

49.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,842 $2,842

-5.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,779 $3,779

10.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$3,284 $3,284

-15.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$2,960 $2,960

66.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sequim, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Sequim, WA

$1.7K 52.4% 5.4% $85

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Sequim, WA

$439 13.8% 1.8% $7.9

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Sequim, WA

$359 11.3% 4% $14

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Sequim, WA

$426 13.4% 31% $101

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Sequim, WA

$140 4.4% 14.5% $24

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Sequim, WA

$46 * 1.5% 50.2% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Sequim, WA

$104 3.3% 24.5% $20

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,933 in Sequim, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 67% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $74 in Sequim, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $439 – making Sequim, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Sequim, WA

🕒 Local time

15:32 3:32 PM

13:32 1:32 PM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

8,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Sequim, WA 2,850 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Sequim, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Sequim, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,178 in Sequim, WA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 4% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,768 in Sequim, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sequim, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,933 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $74 in Sequim, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,178 in Sequim, WA. That makes Chicago, IL about 4% cheaper.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,178 in Sequim, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,178 in Sequim, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.