Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,292 in Des Plaines, IL versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,445 in Des Plaines, IL versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Des Plaines, IL costs roughly 18% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 128% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$24.68 $24.68

-20.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.9 $89.9

$99.1 $99.1

-9.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.03 $13.03

$15.09 $15.09

-13.65%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$6.62 $6.62

-13.60%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$3.13 $3.13

-14.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.98 $2.98

-23.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$8.12 $8.12

-14.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$7.85 $7.85

-2.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.17 $1.17

-14.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$5.20 $5.20

-29.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$6.40 $6.40

-26.41%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$4.91 $4.91

-17.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$21.46 $21.46

-29.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$18.58 $18.58

-27.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$23.05 $23.05

-13.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$5.79 $5.79

-13.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.88 $1.88

-11.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.38 $5.38

-24.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$6.30 $6.30

-22.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.80 $3.80

-26.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.26 $3.26

-14.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.87 $2.87

-26.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.71 $2.71

-9.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.52 $10.52

$14.15 $14.15

-25.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.07 $15.07

-0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.36 $4.36

-41.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$5.75 $5.75

-41.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.06 $3.06

-33.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

$110 $110

-46.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.57 $2.57

23.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.65 $1.65

-16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.51 $22.51

$29.88 $29.88

-24.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.38 $1.38

-27.54%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$36.4K $36.4K

0.35%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.54%

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

$193 $193

$296 $296

-34.87%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$71.3 $71.3

-16.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$88.0 $88.0

-11.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$81.5 $81.5

50.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.05 $40.05

$35.70 $35.70

12.18%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$18.33 $18.33

-19.09%

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

$1,559 $1,559

$3,067 $3,067

-49.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$30.6K $30.6K

-24.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 $64.1

$77.0 $77.0

-16.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$54.0 $54.0

-6.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$128 $128

-19.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$165 $165

-26.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$1,931 $1,931

-16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$3,584 $3,584

-37.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,275 $3,275

$7,403 $7,403

-55.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 $2,480

$5,056 $5,056

-50.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,177 $6,177

$6,320 $6,320

-2.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.42

-0.62%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: August 30, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Seattle, WA pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $431 vs $554 per month, with Des Plaines, IL cheaper across the board.

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

Des Plaines, IL vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Plaines, IL and Seattle, WA differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($3,139 vs $3,836 including rent). Des Plaines, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Des Plaines, IL – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Des Plaines, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Des Plaines, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Des Plaines, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.