Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Rockford, IL: $2,176 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

103

Cost of Living Index in Rockford, IL
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Rockford, IL Living Index
182

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Rockford, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,176

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,762

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rockford, IL and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rockford, IL and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,176 per month in Rockford, IL vs $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Rockford, IL $2,176
Seattle, WA $3,762

A couple spends around $3,485 per month in Rockford, IL vs $5,651 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Rockford, IL $3,485
Seattle, WA $5,651

A family of three spends $4,795 per month in Rockford, IL vs $7,541 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Rockford, IL $4,795
Seattle, WA $7,541

Rockford, IL is about 42% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Rockford, IL and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Rockford, IL by 61%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.58 $15.58

$23.80 $23.80

-34.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$98.6 $98.6

-22.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.65 $9.65

$14.94 $14.94

-35.41%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$6.79 $6.79

-25.18%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$3.23 $3.23

-14.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.15 $3.15

-35.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 $4.48

$8.21 $8.21

-45.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$7.87 $7.87

-9.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.17 $1.17

-29.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$5.29 $5.29

-32.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.76 $5.76

-11.28%

Eggs

$2.92 $2.92

$4.89 $4.89

-40.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$20.25 $20.25

-49.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.69 $13.69

$17.95 $17.95

-23.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$23.35 $23.35

-27.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.94 $5.94

-15.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.89 $1.89

-19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.35 $5.35

-29.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.57 $6.57

-20.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.39 $3.39

-27.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.88 $2.88

-9.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.89 $2.89

-23.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.43 $2.43

-20.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.57 $10.57

$12.18 $12.18

-13.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 $15.73

$15.24 $15.24

3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$4.38 $4.38

-53.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$5.89 $5.89

-68.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 $55.7

$109 $109

-49.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.52 $2.52

9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.72 $1.72

-8.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.16 $21.16

$29.70 $29.70

-28.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.51 $1.51

-34.44%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$36.2K $36.2K

-6.04%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.57%

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

$188 $188

$289 $289

-35.03%

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

$45.31 $45.31

$69.1 $69.1

-34.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 $71.7

$84.8 $84.8

-15.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$69.4 $69.4

-39.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.37 $25.37

$35.05 $35.05

-27.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.00 $14.00

$17.97 $17.97

-22.09%

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

$516 $516

$2,819 $2,819

-81.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,061 $4,061

$43.9K $43.9K

-90.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.05 $46.05

$91.2 $91.2

-49.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.68 $34.68

$55.1 $55.1

-37.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 $95.0

$127 $127

-25.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$162 $162

-30.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 $1,292

$2,579 $2,579

-49.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$943 $943

$1,943 $1,943

-51.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$5,100 $5,100

-53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 $2,040

$3,541 $3,541

-42.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,452 $1,452

$7,357 $7,357

-80.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,439 $1,439

$4,921 $4,921

-70.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,408 $3,408

$6,448 $6,448

-47.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.8

-4.56%

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

Last update for Rockford, IL: November 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Rockford, IL

$943 43.3%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.6% 106% $1,000

Groceries & Markets

Rockford, IL

$392 18%

Seattle, WA

$544 14.5% 38.7% $152

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Rockford, IL

$305 14%

Seattle, WA

$443 11.8% 45.3% $138

Eating Out

Rockford, IL

$270 12.4%

Seattle, WA

$399 10.6% 47.6% $129

Clothing & Footwear

Rockford, IL

$130 6%

Seattle, WA

$196 5.2% 50.8% $66

Sport & Entertainment

Rockford, IL

$70 3.2%

Seattle, WA

$105 2.8% 50.8% $36

Getting Around

Rockford, IL

$66 * 3.1%

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5% 99.3% $66

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,292 in Rockford, IL versus $2,579 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 89% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Rockford, IL versus $99 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $544 – making Rockford, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Rockford, IL

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

00:14 12:14 AM

22:14 10:14 PM

2 h behind Rockford, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

148,655

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Rockford, IL Seattle, WA 2,660 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Rockford, IL
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,264 per month in Rockford, IL and $5,642 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, IL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,292 there versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA.

Kindergarten costs $516 per month in Rockford, IL and $2,819 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockford, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,176, than in Seattle, WA at $3,762. In Rockford, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.