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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,705 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,925 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,146 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 44% more than Edwardsville, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Edwardsville, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Edwardsville, IL by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$17.23 $17.23

47.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.9 $75.9

33.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.71 $11.71

26.39%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$6.09 $6.09

8.87%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.89 $2.89

6.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.02 $2.02

46.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.87 $6.87

15.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.42 $7.42

6.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.08 $1.08

12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.12 $3.12

64.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.90 $4.90

25.71%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.93 $3.93

29.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.85 $13.85

53.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$11.54 $11.54

59.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$18.98 $18.98

21.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.47 $5.47

10.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.71 $1.71

9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.50 $4.50

15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.75 $4.75

34.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.43 $2.43

55.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.71 $2.71

21.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.89 $1.89

51.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.23 $2.23

19.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$11.06 $11.06

25.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.35 $15.35

-1.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.03 $2.03

105.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.05 $3.05

84.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.01 $2.01

47.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$101 $101

6.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.82 $2.82

-8.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.83 $1.83

-9.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$33.05 $33.05

-10.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.82 $0.82

78.05%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$30.8K $30.8K

16.89%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.0K $29.0K

-12.23%

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

$306 $306

$204 $204

49.98%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$57.1 $57.1

22.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$70.2 $70.2

24.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$40.89 $40.89

95.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.89 $13.89

28.51%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,422 $1,422

112.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

29.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$53.4 $53.4

43.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$42.07 $42.07

27.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$88.6 $88.6

41.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$115 $115

40.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,381 $1,381

77.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,313 $1,313

50.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,790 $2,790

74.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,067 $2,067

75.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,343 $2,343

214.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,105 $2,105

137.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$4,932 $4,932

25.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,381 in Edwardsville, 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 25% 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 $76.0 in Edwardsville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $407 – making Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,057 in Edwardsville, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Edwardsville, 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 $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,705 in Edwardsville, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Edwardsville, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,705 in Edwardsville, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Edwardsville, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Edwardsville, 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.