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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,575 in Lansing, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,757 in Lansing, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,940 in Lansing, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 42% more than Lansing, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Lansing, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Lansing, IL by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.71 $18.71

35.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$76.0 $76.0

59.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.02 $11.02

28.04%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.15 $5.15

13.01%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.49 $2.49

19.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.04 $2.04

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.12 $6.12

26.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.94 $6.94

13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.57 $3.57

37.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.45 $4.45

15.51%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.29 $4.29

53.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.39 $12.39

98.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.29 $11.29

40.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.27 $15.27

31.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.95 $4.95

26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.59 $1.59

79.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.32 $4.32

22.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.65 $4.65

37.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.78 $2.78

15.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.88 $2.88

32.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.12 $2.12

29.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.09 $2.09

23.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.77 $9.77

19.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.09 $15.09

4.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.83 $1.83

57.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.46 $3.46

26.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.97 $1.97

40.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.48 $3.48

-23.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.66 $1.66

2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$28.85 $28.85

3.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.0K $29.0K

13.49%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.06%

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

$268 $268

$190 $190

41.04%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.8 $53.8

13.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$69.1 $69.1

10.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.81 $42.81

82.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.32 $13.32

18.77%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,320 $1,320

70.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$51.0 $51.0

38.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.63 $40.63

30.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$87.9 $87.9

33.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$111 $111

24.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,575 $1,575

46.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,380 $1,380

34.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,648 $2,648

78.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,256 $2,256

57.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,622 $2,622

196.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,521 $2,521

112.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,155 $3,155

108.42%

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 Lansing, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,575 in Lansing, 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 108% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $76 in Lansing, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $389 – making Lansing, 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 Lansing, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 42%, 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,862 in Lansing, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lansing, 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 $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,575 in Lansing, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,320 in Lansing, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,575 in Lansing, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

If budget matters most, go with Lansing, 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.