Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rockford, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rockford, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,084 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,948 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,812 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 74% more than Rockford, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Rockford, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Rockford, IL by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$15.13 $15.13

63.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$65.2 $65.2

81.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.05 $9.05

52.27%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.18 $5.18

8.30%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.06 $2.06

40.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.46 $1.46

68.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.05 $4.05

96.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.12 $6.12

34.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.73 $0.73

90.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.13 $2.13

128.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.39 $4.39

17.54%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$1.73 $1.73

282.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$8.03 $8.03

212.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$12.67 $12.67

24.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$15.25 $15.25

33.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$5.76 $5.76

8.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.05 $1.05

160.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.68 $4.68

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.73 $4.73

37.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.13 $2.13

45.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.21 $2.21

74.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.47 $1.47

87.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.70 $2.70

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$10.68 $10.68

6.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.88 $15.88

-2.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.77 $1.77

60.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.41 $3.41

24.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.49 $1.49

80.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$54.2 $54.2

80.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.84 $2.84

-9.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.59 $1.59

8.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$20.91 $20.91

44.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.84 $0.84

36.90%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

11.34%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.21%

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

$263 $263

$183 $183

43.93%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$42.30 $42.30

42.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$64.3 $64.3

15.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$44.17 $44.17

82.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.51 $14.51

9.65%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$494 $494

361.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$4,037 $4,037

638.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$43.16 $43.16

62.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$45.48 $45.48

18.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$79.6 $79.6

49.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$94.2 $94.2

51.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,495 $1,495

54.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$942 $942

94.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$1,495 $1,495

213.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,242 $1,242

181.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$1,493 $1,493

446.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$1,407 $1,407

269.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,235 $3,235

102.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

5.77

11.27%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Rockford, IL: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,495 in Rockford, 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 103% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $65.0 in Rockford, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $360 – making Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 74%, 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 $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,126 in Rockford, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $494 in Rockford, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% 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.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockford, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,084, than in Seattle, WA at $3,634. In Rockford, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockford, 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 Rockford, 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.