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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $1,635 in Urbana, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,593 in Urbana, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,551 in Urbana, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 120% more expensive than Urbana, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Urbana, IL 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$14.89 $14.89

66.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$50.3 $50.3

133.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.21 $11.21

22.84%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.44 $4.44

28.60%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.26 $2.26

34.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.53 $1.53

63.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.35 $5.35

46.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.07 $6.07

29.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.72 $0.72

87.50%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.57 $2.57

96.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.71 $2.71

98.89%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.63 $2.63

160.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.64 $7.64

228.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.91 $8.91

77.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$13.65 $13.65

50.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.46 $3.46

77.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.56 $1.56

80.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.07 $3.07

79.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.50 $3.50

92.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.26 $2.26

39.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.50 $2.50

52.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.75 $1.75

53.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.34 $1.34

97.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.31 $10.31

13.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$10.89 $10.89

44.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.75 $1.75

67.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.26 $1.26

236.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.02 $1.02

176.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.97 $2.97

-12.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.61 $0.61

181.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.34 $29.34

3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.97 $0.97

22.68%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$25.0K $25.0K

31.02%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$22.9K $22.9K

14.14%

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

$263 $263

$220 $220

19.49%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$42.32 $42.32

43.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$59.9 $59.9

26.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.32 $42.32

88.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.05 $12.05

35.02%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,198 $1,198

90.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.4K $23.4K

25.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$45.31 $45.31

51.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.91 $39.91

30.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$68.0 $68.0

70.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$154 $154

-6.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$764 $764

205.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$571 $571

226.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,529 $1,529

202.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,370 $1,370

153.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,639 $1,639

373.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,648 $1,648

217.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$6,675 $6,675

-0.88%

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 Urbana, IL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $764 in Urbana, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Urbana, IL pays 1% 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 $50.0 in Urbana, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $287 per month, with Urbana, 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 Urbana, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Urbana, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Urbana, IL earns 1% 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 $764 in Urbana, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,198 in Urbana, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Urbana, IL – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,635 in Urbana, IL versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Urbana, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Urbana, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Urbana, 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 Urbana, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.