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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,524 per month in Evanston, IL vs $2,702 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,366 per month in Evanston, IL vs $3,965 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,208 per month in Evanston, IL vs $5,228 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Evanston, IL is about 7% cheaper than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Evanston, IL and Spokane, WA sit above the global median – Evanston, IL by 88%, Spokane, WA by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.36 $20.36

$24.40 $24.40

-16.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$74.9 $74.9

5.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$12.97 $12.97

-8.02%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$4.66 $4.66

16.09%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$2.37 $2.37

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.25 $2.25

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$6.62 $6.62

7.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$5.86 $5.86

18.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.04 $1.04

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.92 $2.92

27.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.82 $4.82

11.00%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.61 $4.61

2.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$16.40 $16.40

-16.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$15.30 $15.30

-13.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.14 $19.14

$15.95 $15.95

20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.71 $4.71

-4.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.80 $1.80

-6.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.20 $5.20

-16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$5.56 $5.56

-19.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.46 $3.46

-26.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.62 $2.62

9.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.97 $1.97

-1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.26 $2.26

-12.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$11.52 $11.52

-12.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.25 $14.25

5.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.85 $1.85

29.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$5.12 $5.12

-29.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.06 $2.06

36.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.7 $73.7

$60.8 $60.8

21.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.97 $4.97

-11.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.77 $1.77

-18.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.76 $42.76

$39.94 $39.94

7.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.18 $1.18

-28.81%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$34.0K $34.0K

-13.10%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.31%

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

$187 $187

$163 $163

14.51%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$66.2 $66.2

-6.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$72.6 $72.6

4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.3 $75.3

$44.61 $44.61

68.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.0 $61.0

$14.88 $14.88

309.81%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.26 $14.26

5.54%

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

$1,658 $1,658

$1,411 $1,411

17.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$15.7K $15.7K

126.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 $63.0

$53.0 $53.0

18.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 $48.80

$50.5 $50.5

-3.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 $99.9

$113 $113

-11.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$144 $144

-8.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 $1,627

$1,596 $1,596

1.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

$1,313 $1,313

-15.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,938 $3,938

$2,890 $2,890

36.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,942 $2,942

$2,192 $2,192

34.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K $14.4K

$3,338 $3,338

330.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.9K $12.9K

$2,274 $2,274

467.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,564 $5,564

$4,234 $4,234

31.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.64

-0.60%

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

Last update for Evanston, IL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in Evanston, IL versus $1,596 in Spokane, 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 31% higher in Evanston, 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 $79.0 in Evanston, IL versus $75.0 in Spokane, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $420 in Evanston, IL vs $432 in Spokane, WA – so Evanston, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Spokane, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,524 in Evanston, IL, $2,702 in Spokane, WA – roughly 7% apart. Spokane, WA costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,785 per month in Evanston, IL and $4,052 in Spokane, 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 3% more in Spokane, 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 $75.0 in Spokane, 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 $2,524 in Evanston, IL and $2,702 in Spokane, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

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, Spokane, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.