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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,575 per month in Lansing, IL vs $3,661 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,757 per month in Lansing, IL vs $5,544 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,940 per month in Lansing, IL vs $7,427 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

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

Both Lansing, IL and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Lansing, IL by 92%, Seattle, WA by 173%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 $18.71

$25.32 $25.32

-26.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$121 $121

-37.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 $11.02

$14.11 $14.11

-21.90%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$5.82 $5.82

-11.51%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.98 $2.98

-16.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.40 $2.40

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$7.73 $7.73

-20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.87 $7.87

-11.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.34 $1.34

-25.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.91 $4.91

-27.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.14 $5.14

-13.42%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$6.57 $6.57

-34.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.39 $12.39

$24.64 $24.64

-49.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.29 $11.29

$15.88 $15.88

-28.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.27 $15.27

$20.14 $20.14

-24.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$6.27 $6.27

-21.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.86 $2.86

-44.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.29 $5.29

-18.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$6.39 $6.39

-27.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.21 $3.21

-13.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.83 $3.83

-24.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.74 $2.74

-22.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.58 $2.58

-18.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.77 $9.77

$11.64 $11.64

-16.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$15.77 $15.77

-4.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.88 $2.88

-36.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.39 $4.39

-21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.76 $2.76

-28.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.67 $2.67

30.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.70 $1.70

-2.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.85 $28.85

$29.74 $29.74

-2.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.14 $1.14

-21.05%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$32.9K $32.9K

-11.89%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.97%

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

$190 $190

$268 $268

-29.10%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$60.9 $60.9

-11.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$76.2 $76.2

-9.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.81 $42.81

$78.1 $78.1

-45.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$13.32 $13.32

$15.82 $15.82

-15.80%

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

$1,320 $1,320

$2,252 $2,252

-41.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

-20.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 $51.0

$70.8 $70.8

-28.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.63 $40.63

$53.1 $53.1

-23.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 $87.9

$117 $117

-25.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$139 $139

-19.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$2,310 $2,310

-31.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$1,849 $1,849

-25.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$4,739 $4,739

-44.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,256 $2,256

$3,556 $3,556

-36.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,622 $2,622

$7,775 $7,775

-66.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,521 $2,521

$5,351 $5,351

-52.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,155 $3,155

$6,575 $6,575

-52.02%

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 Lansing, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in Lansing, IL 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 108% 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 $76 in Lansing, IL versus $121 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $539 – making Lansing, 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

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

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 42%, 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 $3,862 per month in Lansing, IL 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 Lansing, IL, 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 $2,575 in Lansing, IL and $3,661 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,320 per month in Lansing, IL 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 $2,575 in Lansing, IL 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 Lansing, IL – 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 Lansing, 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.