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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,538 in Streamwood, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,748 in Streamwood, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,958 in Streamwood, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 42% more expensive than Streamwood, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Streamwood, IL 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$15.16 $15.16

63.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$88.9 $88.9

32.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.94 $10.94

25.87%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.27 $5.27

8.35%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.76 $2.76

10.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.40 $2.40

4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.82 $5.82

34.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.96 $6.96

13.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.92 $0.92

46.74%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.81 $3.81

32.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.39 $3.39

59.00%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.13 $4.13

65.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.96 $9.96

151.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.19 $11.19

41.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.62 $14.62

40.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.48 $4.48

37.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.66 $1.66

69.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.45 $4.45

23.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.66 $4.66

44.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.59 $2.59

21.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.45 $2.45

55.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.54 $1.54

74.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.54 $1.54

71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.54 $11.54

0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.10 $12.10

29.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.78 $1.78

64.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.69 $4.69

-9.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 $2.04

38.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$40.27 $40.27

148.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.41 $4.41

-41.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.70 $1.70

1.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$41.54 $41.54

-27.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.91 $0.91

30.77%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$24.3K $24.3K

34.46%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.82%

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

$263 $263

$174 $174

50.77%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$50.5 $50.5

20.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$55.1 $55.1

37.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.71 $42.71

86.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$8.11 $8.11

391.86%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.07 $15.07

7.96%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,342 $1,342

70.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$24.4K $24.4K

20.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$45.69 $45.69

50.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$44.63 $44.63

16.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$99.9 $99.9

15.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$100 $100

43.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,584 $1,584

47.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,331 $1,331

39.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,624 $2,624

76.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,253 $2,253

54.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,688 $2,688

188.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,367 $2,367

121.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$7,376 $7,376

-10.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Streamwood, IL: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,584 in Streamwood, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Streamwood, IL pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $89.0 in Streamwood, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $360 per month, with Streamwood, 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 Streamwood, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Streamwood, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Streamwood, IL earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,584 in Streamwood, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Streamwood, IL – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,538 in Streamwood, IL – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,538 in Streamwood, IL versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Streamwood, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Streamwood, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Streamwood, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Streamwood, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.