Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Lombard, IL: $2,625 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Lombard, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Lombard, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Lombard, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,782 in Seattle, WA versus $2,625 in Lombard, IL.

  • Seattle, WA $3,782
  • Lombard, IL $2,625

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,636 in Seattle, WA versus $3,685 in Lombard, IL.

  • Seattle, WA $5,636
  • Lombard, IL $3,685

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,489 in Seattle, WA versus $4,745 in Lombard, IL.

  • Seattle, WA $7,489
  • Lombard, IL $4,745

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 44% more expensive than in Lombard, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Lombard, IL 94% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.52 $24.52
$19.91 $19.91
23.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2 $98.2
$73.5 $73.5
33.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$11.30 $11.30
30.88%
Cappuccino
$6.52 $6.52
$6.33 $6.33
3.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$2.68 $2.68
20.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.57 $2.57
23.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 $7.85
$7.05 $7.05
11.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$6.01 $6.01
33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$0.98 $0.98
23.47%
White Bread (500g)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.56 $3.56
44.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.48 $4.48
35.04%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$4.28 $4.28
14.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.18 $19.18
$12.20 $12.20
57.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$11.69 $11.69
61.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.31 $23.31
$16.87 $16.87
38.17%
Apples (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$5.03 $5.03
19.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.57 $1.57
22.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$4.32 $4.32
21.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.57 $6.57
$4.83 $4.83
36.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.78 $2.78
30.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.00 $3.00
10.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.00 $2.00
39.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.92 $1.92
30.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.18 $12.18
$10.18 $10.18
19.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.83 $14.83
$14.98 $14.98
-1.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.99 $1.99
112.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 $5.77
$3.44 $3.44
67.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.93 $1.93
52.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 $106
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.67 $2.67
-0.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.63 $1.63
5.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.72 $29.72
$32.54 $32.54
-8.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.20 $1.20
24.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$25.7K $25.7K
39.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.0K $25.0K
4.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$302 $302
$225 $225
34.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$58.7 $58.7
19.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.3 $85.3
$69.2 $69.2
23.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.8 $77.8
$41.48 $41.48
87.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.58 $34.58
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.84 $17.84
$14.03 $14.03
27.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,973 $2,973
$1,562 $1,562
90.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
$24.5K $24.5K
27.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6 $76.6
$60.6 $60.6
26.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 $54.1
$37.12 $37.12
45.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 $128
$84.8 $84.8
51.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 $164
$129 $129
27.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,445 $2,445
$1,612 $1,612
51.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,947 $1,947
$1,313 $1,313
48.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,744 $4,744
$2,313 $2,313
105.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 $3,469
$1,891 $1,891
83.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,367 $7,367
$2,780 $2,780
164.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,127 $5,127
$2,167 $2,167
136.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Lombard, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,506 $6,506
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
6.57
4.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lombard, IL: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$1.9K
Lombard, IL
$1.3K 32.6% $634
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$546
Lombard, IL
$394 27.7% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$457
Lombard, IL
$353 22.9% $105
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$400
Lombard, IL
$337 15.6% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$190
Lombard, IL
$140 26.4% $50
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$129
Lombard, IL
$19 * 85.7% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$114
Lombard, IL
$70 38.7% $44

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Seattle, WA and $1,612 in Lombard, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Lombard, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $546 vs $394 per month, with Lombard, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 Lombard, IL
🕒 Local time
20:18 8:18 PM
22:18 10:18 PM
2 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
42,792
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Lombard, IL 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Lombard, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lombard, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lombard, IL cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Lombard, IL is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,673 in Seattle, WA and $3,938 in Lombard, 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.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and Lombard, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,445 in Seattle, WA versus $1,612 in Lombard, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Seattle, WA and in Lombard, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Seattle, WA and in Lombard, IL?
All in, you'll spend $3,782 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,625 in Lombard, IL – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Seattle, WA or in Lombard, IL?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Lombard, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Seattle, WA or Lombard, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Lombard, 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.
Which city is safer, Seattle, WA or Lombard, IL?
Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lombard, 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lombard, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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