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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,424 in Effingham, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,514 in Effingham, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,604 in Effingham, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 58% more expensive than in Effingham, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Effingham, IL 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$14.84 $14.84

66.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$45.83 $45.83

116.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$7.99 $7.99

88.86%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.80 $4.80

37.92%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.19 $2.19

42.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.10 $1.10

170.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.08 $5.08

59.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.09 $5.09

54.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.95 $0.95

23.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.29 $2.29

127.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.39 $4.39

45.79%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.76 $3.76

30.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$11.95 $11.95

79.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$10.96 $10.96

69.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.54 $17.54

31.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.19 $5.19

11.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.26 $2.26

-16.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.46 $4.46

20.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.67 $4.67

34.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.21 $2.21

71.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.13 $1.13

188.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.97 $1.97

45.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.30 $2.30

17.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.94 $10.94

29.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$12.22 $12.22

23.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.09 $2.09

108.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.52 $4.52

27.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.10 $2.10

45.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.45 $4.45

-42.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.95 $2.95

-44.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$17.24 $17.24

73.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.03 $1.03

33.98%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.1K $37.1K

-1.67%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$27.2K $27.2K

-7.69%

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

$296 $296

$232 $232

27.84%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$44.39 $44.39

60.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$64.9 $64.9

35.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.47 $41.47

96.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.39 $14.39

27.38%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,348 $1,348

127.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$12.5K $12.5K

145.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$45.68 $45.68

68.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$32.94 $32.94

63.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$63.4 $63.4

101.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$64.7 $64.7

155.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,563 $1,563

54.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,300 $1,300

48.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,496 $2,496

90.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,112 $2,112

69.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,871 $2,871

157.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,710 $2,710

86.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.36

0.94%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Effingham, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,563 in Effingham, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $46.00 in Effingham, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $377 per month, with Effingham, 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 Effingham, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Effingham, IL differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,424 including rent). Effingham, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,754 in Seattle, WA and $3,636 in Effingham, 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,563 in Effingham, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,424 in Effingham, IL – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,424 in Effingham, IL versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Effingham, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Effingham, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Effingham, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.