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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,517 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,494 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,471 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 45% more than Bloomington, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Bloomington, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Bloomington, IL by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.45 $15.45

63.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$51.7 $51.7

134.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.89 $10.89

29.57%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$2.54 $2.54

129.13%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$1.99 $1.99

49.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.03 $2.03

18.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.86 $5.86

31.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.90 $4.90

60.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.83 $0.83

61.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.06 $3.06

60.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.34 $4.34

18.43%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.39 $3.39

93.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$9.02 $9.02

173.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$6.42 $6.42

147.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$13.07 $13.07

54.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.29 $4.29

46.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.29 $1.29

121.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.53 $5.53

-4.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.12 $3.12

104.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.07 $2.07

55.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.12 $2.12

80.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.77 $1.77

54.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.04 $2.04

26.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.18 $9.18

26.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.69 $15.69

0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.72 $1.72

67.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.23 $2.23

96.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.22 $1.22

126.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$40.17 $40.17

145.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.04 $2.04

30.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.14 $2.14

-20.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$33.38 $33.38

-10.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.89 $0.89

28.09%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$33.3K $33.3K

-1.15%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.36%

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

$268 $268

$170 $170

57.49%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$64.8 $64.8

-5.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$72.9 $72.9

4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$59.4 $59.4

31.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$8.42 $8.42

87.89%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,768 $1,768

27.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$27.4K $27.4K

8.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$46.75 $46.75

51.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$41.81 $41.81

27.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.2 $86.2

35.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$129 $129

7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,091 $1,091

111.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,373 $1,373

34.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,119 $2,119

123.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,970 $1,970

80.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$1,339 $1,339

480.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$1,355 $1,355

294.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,580 $4,580

43.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,091 in Bloomington, 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 44% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $52 in Bloomington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $321 – making Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 45% more than Bloomington, 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,775 in Bloomington, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,768 in Bloomington, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bloomington, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,517, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Bloomington, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bloomington, IL costs $2,517 versus $3,661 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 Bloomington, 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.