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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $1,893 in Normal, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,327 in Normal, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,761 in Normal, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 93% more expensive than Normal, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Normal, IL 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$9.96 $9.96

154.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$50.9 $50.9

138.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.19 $10.19

38.47%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.03 $5.03

15.71%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.14 $3.14

-5.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.16 $2.16

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$4.90 $4.90

57.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.88 $6.88

14.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.79 $0.79

69.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.54 $2.54

93.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.33 $3.33

54.35%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.93 $3.93

67.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$8.95 $8.95

175.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$12.66 $12.66

25.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.54 $15.54

29.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.55 $5.55

12.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.17 $1.17

144.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.69 $4.69

12.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.88 $4.88

30.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.13 $2.13

50.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.21 $2.21

73.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.92 $1.92

42.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.70 $2.70

-4.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$10.33 $10.33

12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.42 $11.42

38.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.86 $1.86

54.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.97 $2.97

47.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$93.9 $93.9

5.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.78 $2.78

-3.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.58 $1.58

7.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$21.35 $21.35

39.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.79 $0.79

44.30%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.88%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.34%

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

$268 $268

$181 $181

48.37%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$39.73 $39.73

53.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$63.0 $63.0

20.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.24 $42.24

84.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.50 $14.50

9.10%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$694 $694

224.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$24.5K $24.5K

21.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$30.29 $30.29

133.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.57 $40.57

30.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$81.2 $81.2

44.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$104 $104

33.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,576 $1,576

46.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$712 $712

159.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,674 $2,674

77.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,259 $2,259

57.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$9,955 $9,955

-21.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,461 $3,461

89.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Normal, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,576 in Normal, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 90% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $51 in Normal, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $366 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 93% 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.

Seattle, WA pays 90% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,576 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 $51.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,893 in Normal, IL – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,893 in Normal, IL versus $3,661 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 $1,893 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 93% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.