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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $1,633 in Urbana, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $2,647 in Urbana, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $3,660 in Urbana, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 124% more expensive than Urbana, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Urbana, IL 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$14.98 $14.98

69.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$50.6 $50.6

139.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.01 $11.01

28.16%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.22 $4.22

37.91%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.27 $2.27

31.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.48 $1.48

62.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.36 $5.36

44.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.14 $6.14

28.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.69 $0.69

94.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.57 $2.57

91.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.66 $2.66

93.23%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$2.76 $2.76

138.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$7.63 $7.63

222.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$9.01 $9.01

76.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$13.67 $13.67

47.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$3.58 $3.58

75.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.57 $1.57

82.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.92 $2.92

81.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.47 $3.47

84.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.16 $2.16

48.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.38 $2.38

60.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.68 $1.68

63.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.33 $1.33

93.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.97 $9.97

16.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$8.36 $8.36

88.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.71 $1.71

68.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.28 $1.28

242.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.02 $1.02

170.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.96 $2.96

-9.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.63 $0.63

169.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.42 $29.42

1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.91 $0.91

25.27%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

31.89%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

10.96%

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

$268 $268

$214 $214

25.15%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$41.70 $41.70

46.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$60.1 $60.1

26.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.56 $43.56

79.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.13 $12.13

30.42%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,179 $1,179

91.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$44.49 $44.49

59.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.40 $40.40

31.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$66.1 $66.1

77.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$153 $153

-9.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$757 $757

205.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$577 $577

220.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,516 $1,516

212.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,357 $1,357

162.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$1,634 $1,634

375.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$1,667 $1,667

220.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$6,257 $6,257

5.08%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Urbana, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $757 in Urbana, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 5% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $51 in Urbana, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $281 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 124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 5% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $757 in Urbana, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,179 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 $51.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,633 in Urbana, IL versus $3,661 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 124% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.