Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rock Island, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rock Island, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,544 in Rock Island, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,773 in Rock Island, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,002 in Rock Island, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 44% more expensive than Rock Island, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Rock Island, IL 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.72 $15.72

61.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$91.4 $91.4

32.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.91 $11.91

18.47%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$6.17 $6.17

-5.67%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.68 $2.68

11.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.24 $2.24

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.09 $5.09

51.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.85 $6.85

14.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.97 $0.97

38.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.53 $2.53

94.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.17 $2.17

136.87%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.65 $3.65

80.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.86 $12.86

91.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$14.95 $14.95

6.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$18.58 $18.58

8.40%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.59 $4.59

36.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.61 $1.61

77.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.62 $3.62

46.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.43 $3.43

86.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.60 $1.60

100.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.06 $3.06

25.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.44 $2.44

12.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.08 $1.08

138.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$8.92 $8.92

30.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.95 $14.95

5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.68 $1.68

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.05 $4.05

8.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.97 $1.97

40.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.06 $2.06

29.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.63 $1.63

4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$19.82 $19.82

50.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.84 $0.84

35.71%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

26.61%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

5.97%

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

$268 $268

$147 $147

82.26%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.1 $51.1

19.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$75.1 $75.1

1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.86 $42.86

82.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.90 $14.90

6.17%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,380 $1,380

63.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$12.0K $12.0K

147.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$64.1 $64.1

10.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$49.58 $49.58

7.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$71.8 $71.8

63.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$142 $142

-2.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,632 $1,632

41.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,340 $1,340

38.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,608 $2,608

81.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,213 $2,213

60.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,946 $2,946

163.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,345 $2,345

128.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.61

-2.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Rock Island, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,632 in Rock Island, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $91 in Rock Island, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $372 per month, with Rock Island, 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 Rock Island, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rock Island, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rock Island, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,816 in Rock Island, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,632 in Rock Island, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,544 in Rock Island, IL – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Rock Island, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Rock Island, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,544 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rock Island, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Rock Island, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.