Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,611 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $3,661 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,793 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $5,544 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,975 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $7,427 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

East Chicago, IN is about 29% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both East Chicago, IN and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – East Chicago, IN by 95%, Seattle, WA by 173%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 $18.82

$25.32 $25.32

-25.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$121 $121

-38.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$14.11 $14.11

-21.40%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.82 $5.82

-11.51%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$2.98 $2.98

-17.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.40 $2.40

-15.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.73 $7.73

-22.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$7.87 $7.87

-13.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.34 $1.34

-24.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.91 $4.91

-29.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.14 $5.14

-14.79%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$6.57 $6.57

-36.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$24.64 $24.64

-49.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.69 $11.69

$15.88 $15.88

-26.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 $15.30

$20.14 $20.14

-24.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$6.27 $6.27

-20.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.86 $2.86

-45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.29 $5.29

-18.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$6.39 $6.39

-26.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.21 $3.21

-10.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.83 $3.83

-26.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.74 $2.74

-26.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.58 $2.58

-15.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 $9.54

$11.64 $11.64

-18.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.75 $16.75

$15.77 $15.77

6.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.88 $2.88

-37.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.39 $4.39

-22.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.76 $2.76

-25.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.67 $2.67

28.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.70 $1.70

-2.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.56 $29.56

$29.74 $29.74

-0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.14 $1.14

-24.56%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.9K $32.9K

-10.09%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.20%

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

$190 $190

$268 $268

-29.06%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$60.9 $60.9

-12.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$76.2 $76.2

-10.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$78.1 $78.1

-45.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$13.54 $13.54

$15.82 $15.82

-14.41%

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

$1,287 $1,287

$2,252 $2,252

-42.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

-20.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 $50.8

$70.8 $70.8

-28.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.40 $40.40

$53.1 $53.1

-23.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$117 $117

-26.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$139 $139

-20.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$2,310 $2,310

-30.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$1,849 $1,849

-25.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$4,739 $4,739

-44.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$3,556 $3,556

-37.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 $2,662

$7,775 $7,775

-65.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,049 $2,049

$5,351 $5,351

-61.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 $4,239

$6,575 $6,575

-35.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.42

1.40%

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

Last update for East Chicago, IN: April 21, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,597 in East Chicago, IN versus $2,310 in Seattle, 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 55% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in East Chicago, IN versus $121 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $539 – making East Chicago, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

East Chicago, IN vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,916 per month in East Chicago, IN and $5,491 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in East Chicago, IN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,611 in East Chicago, IN and $3,661 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,287 per month in East Chicago, IN and $2,252 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,611 in East Chicago, IN and $3,661 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward East Chicago, IN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with East Chicago, IN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.