Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saint Charles, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saint Charles, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,780 in Saint Charles, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,083 in Saint Charles, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,494 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,386 in Saint Charles, IL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 30% more than Saint Charles, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Saint Charles, IL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Saint Charles, IL by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$37.90 $37.90

-34.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$99.3 $99.3

22.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.53 $10.53

33.14%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.95 $6.95

-20.00%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.36 $3.36

-9.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$3.08 $3.08

-22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.20 $7.20

10.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.56 $7.56

7.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.04 $1.04

32.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.42 $3.42

44.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.33 $4.33

23.56%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.57 $4.57

44.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.18 $12.18

104.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.38 $11.38

39.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$12.80 $12.80

57.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.80 $4.80

28.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.03 $1.03

167.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.26 $4.26

26.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.77 $4.77

36.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.78 $2.78

15.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.79 $2.79

34.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.58 $1.58

79.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.20 $2.20

19.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.56 $9.56

22.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$15.06 $15.06

2.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.77 $1.77

59.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.41 $3.41

24.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.45 $3.45

-24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.58 $1.58

4.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.44 $29.44

1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.1K $29.1K

13.81%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.92%

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

$270 $270

$185 $185

45.93%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$53.3 $53.3

12.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$68.1 $68.1

9.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.59 $42.59

82.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.35 $13.35

18.20%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,311 $1,311

73.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

26.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$51.8 $51.8

34.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$39.63 $39.63

31.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$87.6 $87.6

34.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$110 $110

30.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,593 $1,593

46.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,378 $1,378

37.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,622 $2,622

81.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,222 $2,222

56.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,526 $2,526

205.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,138 $2,138

133.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Saint Charles, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,593 in Saint Charles, 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 $122 in Seattle, WA versus $99.0 in Saint Charles, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $541 vs $376 – making Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 30% more than Saint Charles, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,407 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,169 in Saint Charles, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,780 in Saint Charles, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,279 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,311 in Saint Charles, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,780 in Saint Charles, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint Charles, IL costs $2,780 versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Saint Charles, 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.