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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,629 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,680 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,731 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 48% more than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Aurora, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Aurora, IL by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$14.21 $14.21

78.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$59.6 $59.6

69.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.86 $11.86

24.79%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.48 $5.48

20.99%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.02 $3.02

1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.34 $2.34

26.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.10 $5.10

55.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.34 $7.34

7.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.91 $0.91

34.07%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.63 $3.63

41.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.61 $4.61

33.62%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.49 $3.49

45.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$8.96 $8.96

137.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$11.37 $11.37

62.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$16.18 $16.18

42.40%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.87 $4.87

24.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.64 $1.64

14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.85 $3.85

35.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.24 $3.24

96.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.83 $1.83

106.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.67 $2.67

23.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.88 $1.88

52.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.55 $1.55

71.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.63 $10.63

30.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.88 $13.88

8.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.23 $2.23

87.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.95 $2.95

91.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.24 $2.24

32.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$99.2 $99.2

8.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.92 $3.92

-34.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.01 $2.01

-17.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$44.60 $44.60

-33.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.99 $0.99

47.47%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$24.8K $24.8K

45.02%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

-0.09%

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

$306 $306

$173 $173

76.53%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$51.4 $51.4

36.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$54.4 $54.4

60.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$29.54 $29.54

170.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$12.20 $12.20

46.31%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,479 $1,479

104.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.7K $23.7K

31.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$56.1 $56.1

36.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$50.9 $50.9

5.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$88.7 $88.7

41.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$79.6 $79.6

103.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,713 $1,713

43.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,454 $1,454

36.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,178 $2,178

124.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,235 $2,235

62.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$9,865 $9,865

-25.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$3,182 $3,182

57.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,883 $3,883

58.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.26

3.04%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aurora, IL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,713 in Aurora, 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 59% 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $60.0 in Aurora, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $358 – making Aurora, 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 Aurora, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 48% more than Aurora, 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 $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,944 in Aurora, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA and $60.0 in Aurora, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,629 in Aurora, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,629 in Aurora, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aurora, IL costs $2,629 versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Aurora, 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.