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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $1,049 in Elgin, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $2,589 in Elgin, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,129 in Elgin, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 270% more expensive than in Elgin, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Seattle, WA is 182% above, Elgin, IL is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$19.61 $19.61

29.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$60.6 $60.6

66.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.05 $10.05

47.26%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.01 $4.01

65.34%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.05 $3.05

0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.98 $1.98

49.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.02 $6.02

31.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$4.96 $4.96

58.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.87 $0.87

40.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.63 $3.63

41.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.88 $4.88

26.23%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.92 $3.92

29.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.21 $11.21

90.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$13.42 $13.42

37.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$12.00 $12.00

92.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.43 $4.43

36.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.34 $1.34

40.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.59 $2.59

100.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.20 $4.20

51.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.93 $1.93

95.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.00 $2.00

65.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.82 $1.82

57.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.36 $2.36

12.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.80 $10.80

28.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.56 $15.56

-3.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.71 $2.71

53.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.60 $3.60

56.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.03 $4.03

-36.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.94 $1.94

-14.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$28.49 $28.49

3.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.00 $1.00

46.00%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.3K $35.3K

2.17%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.56%

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

$306 $306

$101 $101

202.73%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$53.5 $53.5

31.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$49.20 $49.20

77.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$14.94 $14.94

19.48%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,716 $1,716

75.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

32.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$40.21 $40.21

90.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$49.96 $49.96

7.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$102 $102

23.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$120 $120

35.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,240 $2,240

117.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,778 $1,778

103.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,256 $2,256

226.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,218 $2,218

125.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,947 $3,947

56.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.26

3.04%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Elgin, IL: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Seattle, WA pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $61.0 in Elgin, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $376 per month, with Elgin, 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 Elgin, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Elgin, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 270% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,716 in Elgin, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Elgin, IL – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,049 in Elgin, IL versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elgin, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Elgin, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Elgin, 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 Elgin, 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 Elgin, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 270% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.