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 $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,708 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,846 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,985 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 172%, Alton, IL by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$19.70 $19.70

27.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$66.5 $66.5

77.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.87 $11.87

15.92%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.16 $5.16

13.37%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.17 $2.17

40.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.84 $1.84

29.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.08 $5.08

56.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.57 $6.57

19.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.82 $0.82

69.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.55 $2.55

90.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$6.32 $6.32

-18.04%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.68 $3.68

81.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$7.96 $7.96

217.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$7.73 $7.73

105.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$19.64 $19.64

2.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.72 $6.72

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.53 $2.53

13.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$7.08 $7.08

-22.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.17 $5.17

23.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.11 $5.11

-39.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.29 $4.29

-11.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.95 $1.95

43.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.16 $7.16

59.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$13.18 $13.18

18.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.90 $1.90

57.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.99 $3.99

6.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.94 $2.94

-8.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.46 $29.46

0.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30.2K $30.2K

10.36%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.94%

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

$261 $261

$241 $241

8.27%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$49.43 $49.43

22.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$63.5 $63.5

19.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.18 $42.18

86.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$11.80 $11.80

34.07%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,295 $1,295

70.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

25.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$57.4 $57.4

21.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$43.12 $43.12

20.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$75.3 $75.3

55.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$195 $195

-28.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,622 $1,622

43.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,369 $1,369

36.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,648 $2,648

78.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,198 $2,198

62.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$1,537 $1,537

397.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$1,457 $1,457

245.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$3,852 $3,852

69.16%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,622 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 69% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $66.0 in Alton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $405 – 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 $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,062 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,708 in Alton, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,295 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,708 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 $2,708 versus $3,621 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.