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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $3,200 in Schaumburg, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,472 in Schaumburg, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,744 in Schaumburg, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 20% more expensive than in Schaumburg, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Schaumburg, IL 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$15.27 $15.27

61.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$102 $102

-2.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$13.13 $13.13

14.93%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.87 $4.87

35.93%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.60 $2.60

20.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.19 $2.19

36.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.44 $4.44

82.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.12 $6.12

28.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.81 $0.81

44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.94 $3.94

31.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$7.82 $7.82

-18.16%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.00 $4.00

22.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$14.77 $14.77

45.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.60 $13.60

36.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.68 $17.68

30.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.57 $5.57

3.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.08 $3.08

-38.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.97 $4.97

8.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.20 $4.20

50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.38 $3.38

12.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.03 $2.03

41.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.52 $3.52

-23.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$18.29 $18.29

-22.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$19.34 $19.34

-22.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$5.41 $5.41

6.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.01 $1.01

36.63%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

39.70%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$28.8K $28.8K

-12.93%

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

$296 $296

$341 $341

-13.12%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$76.9 $76.9

-7.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$146 $146

-39.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$62.7 $62.7

29.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$39.84 $39.84

-10.39%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$20.25 $20.25

-9.48%

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

$3,067 $3,067

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$84.3K $84.3K

-63.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$73.9 $73.9

4.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$50.6 $50.6

6.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$102 $102

25.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$118 $118

39.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,932 $1,932

25.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,666 $1,666

15.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,757 $2,757

72.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,562 $2,562

39.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,185 $2,185

238.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,118 $2,118

138.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,891 $4,891

29.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.1

5.25%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Schaumburg, IL: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,932 in Schaumburg, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $102 in Schaumburg, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $554 vs $464, with Schaumburg, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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 Schaumburg, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Schaumburg, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Schaumburg, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,932 in Schaumburg, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,200 in Schaumburg, IL – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Schaumburg, 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 Schaumburg, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,200 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Schaumburg, IL hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Schaumburg, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Schaumburg, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.