🙂A single person spends $2,603 per month in Seaside, OR vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,822 per month in Seaside, OR vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,041 per month in Seaside, OR vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.
🙂Seaside, OR is about 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Seaside, OR and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Seaside, OR by 94%, Chicago, IL by 130%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39$17.39
$20.91$20.91
-16.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.3$88.3
$98.1$98.1
-10.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.05$10.05
$11.86$11.86
-15.26%
Cappuccino
$4.52$4.52
$5.60$5.60
-19.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61$2.61
$3.07$3.07
-14.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$2.47$2.47
-21.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.64$4.64
$7.14$7.14
-35.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13$7.13
$8.08$8.08
-11.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.05$1.05
1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82$3.82
$4.11$4.11
-7.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$5.61$5.61
-33.69%
Eggs
$4.96$4.96
$4.51$4.51
9.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.99$16.99
$14.27$14.27
19.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.93$12.93
$14.89$14.89
-13.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.36$16.36
$19.19$19.19
-14.75%
Apples(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$5.14$5.14
-18.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47$1.47
$1.77$1.77
-16.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.68$3.68
$4.39$4.39
-16.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.78$3.78
$4.56$4.56
-17.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06$2.06
$2.54$2.54
-18.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10$2.10
$2.75$2.75
-23.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99$1.99
$2.42$2.42
-17.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$2.62$2.62
-33.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.54$10.54
$14.92$14.92
-29.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.73$14.73
$14.80$14.80
-0.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60$1.60
$2.46$2.46
-34.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96$2.96
$3.73$3.73
-20.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$2.48$2.48
-20.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.4$75.4
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55$3.55
$3.18$3.18
11.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71$1.71
$1.42$1.42
20.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.77$40.77
$24.94$24.94
63.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.06$1.06
-5.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K$27.8K
$31.9K$31.9K
-12.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$26.0K$26.0K
-3.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$274$274
$185$185
48.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9$54.9
$61.7$61.7
-11.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2$76.2
$66.9$66.9
13.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.87$42.87
$75.2$75.2
-42.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.08$13.08
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.92$12.92
$14.71$14.71
-12.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,299$1,299
$2,020$2,020
-35.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$39.4K$39.4K
-39.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.39$45.39
$64.6$64.6
-29.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3$51.3
$52.5$52.5
-2.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8$84.8
$97.8$97.8
-13.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2$80.2
$148$148
-45.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$2,313$2,313
-29.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,348$1,348
$1,590$1,590
-15.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,632$2,632
$4,608$4,608
-42.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,250$2,250
$2,779$2,779
-19.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,644$2,644
$3,922$3,922
-32.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,334$2,334
$2,613$2,613
-10.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seaside, OR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,773$4,773
$5,217$5,217
-8.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seaside, OR: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,619 in Seaside, OR versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. 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 9% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $88.0 in Seaside, OR versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $447 – making Seaside, OR 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
Seaside, OR vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Seaside, OR and Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,603 in Seaside, OR, $3,077 in Chicago, IL – roughly 18% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Seaside, OR compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,904 per month in Seaside, OR and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Seaside, OR and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Seaside, OR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Seaside, OR and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,603 in Seaside, OR and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Seaside, OR and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,603 in Seaside, OR to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Seaside, OR and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Seaside, OR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Seaside, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared