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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,707 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,841 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,976 in Alton, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 34% more than Alton, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Alton, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Alton, IL by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$19.72 $19.72

25.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$67.4 $67.4

75.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$12.09 $12.09

13.98%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.96 $4.96

13.10%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.14 $2.14

35.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.93 $1.93

27.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.15 $5.15

54.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.38 $6.38

28.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.77 $0.77

80.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.62 $2.62

85.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$6.15 $6.15

-16.10%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.62 $3.62

82.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$7.68 $7.68

226.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$7.58 $7.58

108.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$19.59 $19.59

3.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$6.78 $6.78

-8.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.62 $2.62

4.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$6.82 $6.82

-21.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.03 $5.03

29.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.13 $5.13

-39.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$4.41 $4.41

-12.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.02 $2.02

36.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.51 $2.51

1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$6.90 $6.90

64.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.70 $14.70

5.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.91 $1.91

48.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.83 $3.83

10.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.98 $2.98

-13.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.59 $1.59

8.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.66 $29.66

1.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.81 $0.81

41.98%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.3K $29.3K

13.67%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.67%

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

$263 $263

$239 $239

10.23%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$49.73 $49.73

21.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$61.3 $61.3

21.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$43.82 $43.82

83.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$12.17 $12.17

30.73%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,316 $1,316

73.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

27.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$56.4 $56.4

24.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$44.19 $44.19

21.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$75.8 $75.8

57.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$196 $196

-27.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,618 $1,618

42.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,342 $1,342

36.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,634 $2,634

78.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,230 $2,230

56.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$1,515 $1,515

438.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$1,442 $1,442

260.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,855 $3,855

70.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.56

-2.13%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,618 in Alton, 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 70% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $67.0 in Alton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $404 – making Alton, 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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 34% more than Alton, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,061 in Alton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alton, 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 $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,707 in Alton, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,316 in Alton, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,707 in Alton, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alton, IL costs $2,707 versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Alton, 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.