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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,259 in Normal, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,291 in Normal, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,324 in Normal, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 72% more expensive than in Normal, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Normal, IL 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$11.35 $11.35

120.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$50.2 $50.2

99.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.01 $10.01

50.45%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.90 $4.90

30.00%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.37 $3.37

-8.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.50 $1.50

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.24 $5.24

48.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.15 $6.15

33.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.79 $0.79

53.16%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.67 $2.67

86.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.25 $3.25

96.62%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$3.65 $3.65

40.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$8.98 $8.98

134.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.49 $12.49

47.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.21 $19.21

25.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.44 $6.44

-8.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.25 $1.25

50.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$6.69 $6.69

-20.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.16 $5.16

25.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.38 $3.38

8.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.22 $3.22

4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.98 $1.98

40.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.38 $2.38

8.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.83 $11.83

17.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$10.84 $10.84

38.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.92 $1.92

122.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.92 $2.92

100.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.43 $2.43

20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$92.3 $92.3

17.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.83 $5.83

-55.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.08 $1.08

59.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$18.30 $18.30

66.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.86 $0.86

62.79%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.52%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

-4.48%

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

$299 $299

$206 $206

45.05%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$96.0 $96.0

-27.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$63.8 $63.8

37.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$40.21 $40.21

99.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$12.05 $12.05

46.89%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,071 $1,071

182.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$30.45 $30.45

153.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$40.70 $40.70

35.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$67.9 $67.9

89.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$151 $151

5.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,004 $1,004

147.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$902 $902

114.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,791 $1,791

165.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,621 $1,621

124.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$9,996 $9,996

-24.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,165 $4,165

49.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.33

1.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Normal, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,004 in Normal, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $50.0 in Normal, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $392 per month, with Normal, 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 Normal, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Normal, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Normal, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,004 in Normal, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Normal, IL – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,259 in Normal, IL – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,259 in Normal, IL versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Normal, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Normal, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Normal, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,259 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Normal, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Normal, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.