Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oak Lawn, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oak Lawn, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,563 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,632 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,663 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,681 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,763 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 40% more than Oak Lawn, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Oak Lawn, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Oak Lawn, IL by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$18.21 $18.21

37.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$64.6 $64.6

84.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.17 $10.17

36.68%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.04 $5.04

10.32%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.19 $3.19

-4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.24 $2.24

10.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.92 $4.92

61.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.91 $6.91

15.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.23 $3.23

56.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.35 $3.35

60.00%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.38 $4.38

50.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$9.81 $9.81

158.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$8.64 $8.64

87.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$13.36 $13.36

51.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.29 $3.29

81.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.16 $1.16

136.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.29 $3.29

62.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$3.24 $3.24

104.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.20 $2.20

47.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.13 $1.13

235.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.94 $1.94

40.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.90 $9.90

14.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$10.04 $10.04

62.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.82 $1.82

56.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.54 $3.54

17.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.99 $1.99

35.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$50.7 $50.7

91.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.73 $2.73

-0.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.57 $1.57

10.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$20.62 $20.62

42.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.81 $0.81

48.15%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$15.5K $15.5K

116.50%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.00%

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

$266 $266

$186 $186

43.36%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$48.77 $48.77

23.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$65.0 $65.0

17.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$42.66 $42.66

85.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$14.84 $14.84

9.30%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,808 $1,808

26.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.8K $23.8K

24.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$43.27 $43.27

60.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$45.99 $45.99

14.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$80.4 $80.4

48.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$105 $105

36.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,570 $1,570

51.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,336 $1,336

39.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,662 $2,662

77.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,263 $2,263

55.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,343 $2,343

229.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,534 $2,534

112.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

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 27, 2026

Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,570 in Oak Lawn, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $65.0 in Oak Lawn, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $314 – making Oak Lawn, 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 Oak Lawn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,374 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,844 in Oak Lawn, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oak Lawn, 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 92% less in Oak Lawn, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,280 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,808 in Oak Lawn, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Oak Lawn, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,563, than in Seattle, WA at $3,583. In Oak Lawn, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Oak Lawn, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Oak Lawn, 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.