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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,953 in Naperville, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,054 in Naperville, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,156 in Naperville, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 24% more than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Naperville, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Naperville, IL by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.19 $15.19

66.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$60.9 $60.9

98.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.18 $10.18

38.61%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.14 $4.14

40.58%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.31 $2.31

29.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.33 $2.33

3.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$4.18 $4.18

84.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.11 $6.11

28.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.76 $0.76

76.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.55 $4.55

7.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.34 $3.34

53.89%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.79 $4.79

37.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$7.52 $7.52

227.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$10.84 $10.84

46.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$11.27 $11.27

78.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.61 $5.61

11.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.69 $1.69

69.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.94 $2.94

79.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.42 $3.42

86.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.28 $1.28

150.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.37 $2.37

61.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.61 $1.61

70.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.46 $1.46

76.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$8.37 $8.37

39.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$8.01 $8.01

96.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.75 $1.75

64.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.70 $3.70

18.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$5.85 $5.85

-52.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$130 $130

-23.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.08 $5.08

-47.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.75 $1.75

-2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$49.70 $49.70

-40.16%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

33.02%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.50%

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

$268 $268

$174 $174

53.95%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.4 $51.4

18.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$51.6 $51.6

47.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$102 $102

-23.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$11.11 $11.11

42.39%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$939 $939

139.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$45.60 $45.60

55.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$46.67 $46.67

13.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$67.9 $67.9

72.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$99.4 $99.4

39.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,987 $1,987

16.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,685 $1,685

9.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$3,338 $3,338

41.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,406 $2,406

47.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,220 $2,220

250.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,177 $2,177

145.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$6,566 $6,566

0.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Naperville, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,987 in Naperville, 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 0% 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 $61 in Naperville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $328 – making Naperville, 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 Naperville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 24% more than Naperville, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,429 in Naperville, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Naperville, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Naperville, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $939 in Naperville, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,953 in Naperville, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Naperville, IL costs $2,953 versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Naperville, 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.