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 $2,548 per month in Evanston, IL vs $2,671 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,455 per month in Evanston, IL vs $3,996 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,363 per month in Evanston, IL vs $5,321 in Spokane, WA, rent included.

Evanston, IL is about 5% cheaper than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Evanston, IL and Spokane, WA sit above the global median – Evanston, IL by 85%, Spokane, WA by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$19.63 $19.63

3.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.1 $84.1

$74.8 $74.8

12.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.93 $12.93

$13.25 $13.25

-2.42%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.26 $5.26

9.32%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.30 $2.30

16.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.20 $2.20

2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.90 $6.90

1.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 $7.46

$6.17 $6.17

20.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.93 $0.93

10.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.42 $3.42

15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.83 $4.83

-2.28%

Eggs

$4.92 $4.92

$5.63 $5.63

-12.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.93 $15.93

-7.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$13.79 $13.79

4.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$16.85 $16.85

15.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$6.45 $6.45

-16.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.75 $1.75

-4.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.34 $5.34

-20.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.66 $5.66

-14.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.16 $3.16

-12.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.08 $3.08

-9.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.05 $2.05

0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.85 $1.85

30.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 $10.54

$12.36 $12.36

-14.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$14.16 $14.16

7.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.89 $1.89

39.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.82 $4.82

-27.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.97 $1.97

24.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.7 $74.7

$53.5 $53.5

39.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.13 $5.13

-22.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.79 $1.79

-20.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.60 $43.60

$39.65 $39.65

9.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.27 $1.27

-25.98%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.6K $36.6K

-0.64%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.52%

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

$191 $191

$176 $176

8.52%

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

$62.1 $62.1

$75.7 $75.7

-17.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$75.3 $75.3

-1.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.5 $74.5

$56.9 $56.9

31.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 $58.9

$15.15 $15.15

288.58%

Cinema Ticket

$14.82 $14.82

$15.72 $15.72

-5.73%

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

$1,560 $1,560

$1,373 $1,373

13.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$21.5K $21.5K

45.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$53.0 $53.0

19.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$49.14 $49.14

3.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$113 $113

-6.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$144 $144

-13.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$1,641 $1,641

2.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,106 $1,106

$1,290 $1,290

-14.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,992 $3,992

$2,614 $2,614

52.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,021 $3,021

$2,090 $2,090

44.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.5K $14.5K

$3,342 $3,342

332.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.8K $12.8K

$2,330 $2,330

449.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,329 $5,329

$4,243 $4,243

25.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.23

2.41%

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

Last update for Evanston, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Evanston, IL versus $1,641 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 26% 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 $84.0 in Evanston, IL versus $75.0 in Spokane, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $443 vs $438 – making Spokane, WA 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 Spokane, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,548 in Evanston, IL, $2,671 in Spokane, WA – roughly 5% apart. Spokane, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,822 per month in Evanston, IL and $4,007 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Spokane, WA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 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 $2,548 in Evanston, IL and $2,671 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.