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 $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,544 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,673 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,803 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 39% 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 165%, Oak Lawn, IL by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$18.38 $18.38

38.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$64.5 $64.5

88.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$9.82 $9.82

40.63%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.06 $5.06

15.81%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$3.06 $3.06

-1.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.25 $2.25

7.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$4.89 $4.89

61.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.90 $6.90

18.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.86 $0.86

62.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.39 $3.39

44.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.34 $3.34

55.09%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.34 $4.34

57.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$9.75 $9.75

155.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$9.05 $9.05

73.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$13.44 $13.44

49.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.33 $3.33

80.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.17 $1.17

142.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.25 $3.25

65.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.40 $3.40

96.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.18 $2.18

44.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.08 $1.08

241.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.00 $2.00

39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.96 $1.96

35.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.07 $10.07

12.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$10.01 $10.01

55.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.90 $1.90

51.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.49 $3.49

20.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.97 $1.97

41.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

$49.89 $49.89

94.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.85 $2.85

-8.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.65 $1.65

1.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$20.69 $20.69

43.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.79 $0.79

44.30%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$15.4K $15.4K

116.03%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.48%

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

$263 $263

$183 $183

43.20%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$49.03 $49.03

24.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$63.9 $63.9

16.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$42.28 $42.28

88.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$14.95 $14.95

5.75%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,851 $1,851

23.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

21.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$43.23 $43.23

57.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$45.59 $45.59

14.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$79.0 $79.0

47.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$106 $106

31.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,612 $1,612

47.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,348 $1,348

39.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,596 $2,596

83.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,206 $2,206

62.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$2,909 $2,909

175.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$2,247 $2,247

131.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,612 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $64.0 in Oak Lawn, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $319 – 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 39%, 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 $5,300 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,815 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 94% less in Oak Lawn, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,289 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,851 in Oak Lawn, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $2,544 in Oak Lawn, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.