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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,501 per month in Evanston, IL vs $3,565 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,379 per month in Evanston, IL vs $5,605 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,257 per month in Evanston, IL vs $7,645 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Evanston, IL is about 30% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Evanston, IL and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Evanston, IL by 87%, Seattle, WA by 167%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$24.79 $24.79

-18.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$119 $119

-33.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$14.15 $14.15

-15.34%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$5.71 $5.71

-5.25%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.93 $2.93

-9.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.52 $2.52

-9.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$7.89 $7.89

-8.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$8.05 $8.05

-14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.36 $1.36

-20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$5.07 $5.07

-26.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.25 $5.25

2.48%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$6.91 $6.91

-34.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$24.95 $24.95

-45.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$15.75 $15.75

-14.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.03 $19.03

$20.72 $20.72

-8.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$6.19 $6.19

-28.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.79 $2.79

-39.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.52 $5.52

-20.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$6.42 $6.42

-30.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.16 $3.16

-21.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$3.89 $3.89

-25.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.70 $2.70

-25.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$11.37 $11.37

-13.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.67 $15.67

-2.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.87 $2.87

-17.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.26 $4.26

-12.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.71 $2.71

1.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$98.8 $98.8

-23.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.58 $2.58

73.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.63 $1.63

-16.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.68 $41.68

$29.68 $29.68

40.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.14 $1.14

-21.05%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.8K $32.8K

-9.79%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.89%

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

$184 $184

$264 $264

-30.29%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$61.6 $61.6

3.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$75.5 $75.5

0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$78.0 $78.0

-3.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.1 $60.1

$40.28 $40.28

49.21%

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$16.11 $16.11

-7.26%

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

$1,598 $1,598

$2,212 $2,212

-27.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.0K $29.0K

18.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 $65.1

$69.3 $69.3

-6.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.92 $48.92

$53.8 $53.8

-9.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$119 $119

-14.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$142 $142

-4.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$2,357 $2,357

-28.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,121 $1,121

$1,834 $1,834

-38.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,016 $4,016

$4,686 $4,686

-14.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,056 $3,056

$3,571 $3,571

-14.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.6K $14.6K

$7,539 $7,539

94.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.1K $13.1K

$5,046 $5,046

159.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,271 $5,271

$6,473 $6,473

-18.57%

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 Evanston, IL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Evanston, IL versus $2,357 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 23% 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 $79.0 in Evanston, IL versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $543 – making Evanston, IL 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,501 in Evanston, IL, $3,565 in Seattle, WA – roughly 43% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,752 per month in Evanston, IL and $5,347 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 29% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Evanston, IL and $119 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,501 in Evanston, IL and $3,565 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,501 in Evanston, IL to $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Evanston, IL. 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.