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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,531 in Joliet, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,749 in Joliet, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,968 in Joliet, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 45% more expensive than Joliet, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Joliet, IL 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.96 $18.96

33.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$74.8 $74.8

62.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.15 $11.15

26.55%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.97 $4.97

17.10%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.50 $2.50

19.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.02 $2.02

18.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.92 $5.92

30.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.91 $6.91

13.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.58 $3.58

37.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.30 $4.30

19.53%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.21 $4.21

56.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.09 $12.09

103.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.39 $11.39

39.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.55 $15.55

29.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.97 $4.97

26.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.62 $1.62

76.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.14 $4.14

27.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.63 $4.63

38.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.89 $2.89

11.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.86 $2.86

33.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.00 $2.00

37.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.10 $2.10

22.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.39 $9.39

23.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.20 $14.20

11.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.78 $1.78

61.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.39 $3.39

29.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.06 $2.06

33.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.57 $3.57

-25.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.65 $1.65

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.47 $29.47

0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.86 $0.86

32.56%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

11.00%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

1.79%

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

$268 $268

$184 $184

45.65%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.2 $52.2

16.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$68.6 $68.6

11.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.69 $42.69

82.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.77 $13.77

14.89%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,318 $1,318

70.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

26.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$50.8 $50.8

39.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$39.92 $39.92

33.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.6 $86.6

35.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$111 $111

25.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,592 $1,592

45.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,340 $1,340

37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,628 $2,628

80.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,259 $2,259

57.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,780 $2,780

179.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,402 $2,402

122.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Joliet, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,592 in Joliet, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $75 in Joliet, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $386 per month, with Joliet, 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 Joliet, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Joliet, IL differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $2,531 including rent). Joliet, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,797 in Joliet, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,592 in Joliet, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,318 in Joliet, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Joliet, IL – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Joliet, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Joliet, 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 Joliet, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.