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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 15.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 16.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$20.82 $20.82

20.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$100 $100

18.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.97 $11.97

15.62%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.56 $5.56

4.32%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.11 $3.11

-5.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.42 $2.42

3.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.86 $6.86

13.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.45 $8.45

-7.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.15 $4.15

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$5.52 $5.52

-3.08%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.65 $4.65

48.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$14.33 $14.33

73.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$14.88 $14.88

5.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$19.34 $19.34

7.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$5.17 $5.17

17.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.71 $1.71

60.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.41 $4.41

24.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.51 $4.51

43.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.53 $2.53

22.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.74 $2.74

34.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.43 $2.43

14.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.7 $2.7

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$15.19 $15.19

-23.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$16.42 $16.42

4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.35 $2.35

25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.7 $3.7

13.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.53 $2.53

10.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$74.1 $74.1

36.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.34 $3.34

-19.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.42 $1.42

16.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$25.42 $25.42

18.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.08 $1.08

7.41%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

2.81%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.20%

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

$271 $271

$188 $188

43.99%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$63.7 $63.7

-2.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$65.2 $65.2

15.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$76.7 $76.7

2.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$13.03 $13.03

214.97%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$14.93 $14.93

6.43%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$2,063 $2,063

9.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$39.2K $39.2K

-25.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$64.3 $64.3

8.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$52.4 $52.4

0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$95.2 $95.2

25.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$145 $145

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,378 $2,378

-0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,584 $1,584

15.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$4,763 $4,763

-1.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$2,815 $2,815

23.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$3,588 $3,588

93.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$2,490 $2,490

109.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,275 $5,275

22.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.6

-2.73%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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