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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,603 in Waukegan, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,738 in Waukegan, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,873 in Waukegan, IL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than in Waukegan, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Waukegan, IL 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$19.07 $19.07

29.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$76.2 $76.2

59.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.99 $10.99

27.57%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.05 $5.05

10.10%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.61 $2.61

16.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.96 $1.96

21.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.90 $5.90

34.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.01 $7.01

15.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.01 $1.01

36.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.47 $3.47

42.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.21 $4.21

27.08%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.13 $4.13

59.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.46 $12.46

99.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.29 $11.29

41.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.14 $15.14

33.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.78 $4.78

29.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.56 $1.56

76.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.23 $4.23

27.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.64 $4.64

40.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.78 $2.78

15.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.78 $2.78

34.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.03 $2.03

39.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.19 $2.19

19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.32 $9.32

25.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$14.15 $14.15

9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.83 $1.83

54.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.35 $3.35

26.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.43 $3.43

-24.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.66 $1.66

-0.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.12 $29.12

2.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.91 $0.91

25.27%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$30.1K $30.1K

10.14%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.58%

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

$270 $270

$187 $187

44.51%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$52.6 $52.6

13.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$67.6 $67.6

9.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.40 $42.40

83.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.47 $13.47

17.15%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,302 $1,302

75.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

27.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$51.6 $51.6

35.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$39.97 $39.97

30.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$87.8 $87.8

33.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$112 $112

28.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,631 $1,631

43.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,353 $1,353

40.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,604 $2,604

82.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,242 $2,242

54.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,788 $2,788

176.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,439 $2,439

104.25%

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 Waukegan, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,631 in Waukegan, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $76.0 in Waukegan, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $383 per month, with Waukegan, 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 Waukegan, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waukegan, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,407 in Seattle, WA and $3,904 in Waukegan, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,631 in Waukegan, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $1,302 in Waukegan, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Waukegan, IL – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Waukegan, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Waukegan, 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 Waukegan, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.