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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,536 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,708 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,879 in Oak Park, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 51% more than Oak Park, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Oak Park, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Oak Park, IL by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$19.76 $19.76

24.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$73.9 $73.9

34.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.39 $11.39

32.48%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.26 $5.26

25.86%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.61 $2.61

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.04 $2.04

46.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.88 $5.88

38.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.12 $7.12

10.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.00 $1.00

17.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.46 $3.46

50.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.27 $4.27

49.88%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.34 $4.34

13.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.25 $12.25

75.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$11.74 $11.74

58.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$16.45 $16.45

40.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.86 $4.86

19.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.68 $1.68

11.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.53 $4.53

18.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.67 $4.67

34.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.77 $2.77

37.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.97 $2.97

9.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.09 $2.09

37.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.29 $2.29

18.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.85 $9.85

43.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.08 $15.08

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.92 $1.92

127.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.38 $3.38

70.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.95 $1.95

56.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.92 $2.92

-11.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.78 $1.78

-7.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$30.55 $30.55

-2.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.92 $0.92

50.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.2K $36.2K

0.77%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.27%

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

$296 $296

$201 $201

47.29%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$58.3 $58.3

22.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$68.1 $68.1

29.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.88 $41.88

94.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.76 $13.76

33.21%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,412 $1,412

117.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$23.4K $23.4K

30.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$53.0 $53.0

45.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$40.69 $40.69

32.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$88.7 $88.7

43.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$115 $115

43.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,591 $1,591

51.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,301 $1,301

48.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,548 $2,548

86.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,170 $2,170

65.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,780 $2,780

166.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,403 $2,403

110.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$5,749 $5,749

9.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Oak Park, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,591 in Oak Park, 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 10% 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 $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $74.0 in Oak Park, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $396 – making Oak Park, 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 Park, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA, $2,536 in Oak Park, IL – roughly 51% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,804 in Oak Park, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA and $74.0 in Oak Park, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $2,536 in Oak Park, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,536 in Oak Park, IL to $3,836 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Oak Park, 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.