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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,685 in Berwyn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,982 in Berwyn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $5,280 in Berwyn, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 34% more expensive than in Berwyn, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Berwyn, IL 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$19.67 $19.67

25.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$80.7 $80.7

50.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.90 $9.90

41.62%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.72 $5.72

-2.80%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.08 $3.08

-0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.14 $2.14

11.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.92 $4.92

61.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.03 $8.03

0.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.09 $1.09

26.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.10 $4.10

20.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$5.49 $5.49

-2.55%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.29 $4.29

53.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$14.09 $14.09

76.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.99 $12.99

22.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$18.98 $18.98

6.48%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.58 $5.58

10.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.78 $1.78

55.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.57 $4.57

17.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.81 $4.81

35.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.55 $2.55

25.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.82 $2.82

32.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.38 $2.38

19.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$15.27 $15.27

-23.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$15.08 $15.08

2.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.89 $1.89

49.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.61 $3.61

17.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.98 $1.98

39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$73.9 $73.9

32.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.72 $2.72

-4.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$21.27 $21.27

39.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.86 $0.86

32.56%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

2.34%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

0.18%

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

$270 $270

$185 $185

45.69%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$48.53 $48.53

22.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$65.3 $65.3

13.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.98 $42.98

80.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$15.22 $15.22

3.68%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,846 $1,846

23.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

23.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$53.9 $53.9

29.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$45.57 $45.57

14.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$96.3 $96.3

21.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$127 $127

13.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,572 $1,572

48.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,333 $1,333

42.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,595 $2,595

83.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,194 $2,194

58.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$3,031 $3,031

154.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,299 $2,299

116.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Berwyn, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,572 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $439 per month, with Berwyn, IL cheaper across the board.

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 Berwyn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Berwyn, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,407 in Seattle, WA and $4,027 in Berwyn, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,572 in Berwyn, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $1,846 in Berwyn, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Berwyn, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Berwyn, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Berwyn, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Berwyn, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.