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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,455 in Mundelein, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,580 in Mundelein, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,706 in Mundelein, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 56% more expensive than in Mundelein, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Mundelein, IL 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$16.07 $16.07

53.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$54.1 $54.1

83.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$7.65 $7.65

97.25%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.52 $5.52

19.93%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.16 $3.16

-0.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.47 $2.47

20.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.83 $6.83

18.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.37 $7.37

6.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.83 $0.83

40.96%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.77 $3.77

37.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.25 $2.25

184.44%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.80 $3.80

29.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$15.43 $15.43

39.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.69 $13.69

35.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$20.51 $20.51

12.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.47 $4.47

29.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.66 $1.66

13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.20 $5.20

3.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.94 $4.94

27.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.79 $2.79

36.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.07 $3.07

6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.08 $2.08

37.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.46 $2.46

10.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.52 $10.52

34.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.29 $15.29

-1.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.72 $2.72

60.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.47 $4.47

28.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.21 $2.21

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.95 $3.95

-34.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.04 $2.04

-19.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$43.67 $43.67

-31.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.02 $1.02

35.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.3K $35.3K

3.21%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.9K $24.9K

0.88%

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

$296 $296

$179 $179

65.16%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$53.3 $53.3

33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$44.58 $44.58

97.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$47.40 $47.40

71.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.05 $15.05

21.79%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,700 $1,700

80.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$23.3K $23.3K

31.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$64.6 $64.6

19.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$51.2 $51.2

5.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$108 $108

17.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$120 $120

36.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,465 $1,465

65.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,210 $1,210

59.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,240 $2,240

112.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,068 $2,068

73.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,531 $2,531

192.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,314 $2,314

118.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.26

2.56%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mundelein, IL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,465 in Mundelein, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $54.0 in Mundelein, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $430 per month, with Mundelein, 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 Mundelein, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mundelein, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,754 in Seattle, WA and $3,682 in Mundelein, 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 $1,465 in Mundelein, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,700 in Mundelein, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mundelein, IL – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,455 in Mundelein, IL versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mundelein, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Mundelein, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mundelein, 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 Mundelein, 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 Mundelein, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.