Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Springfield, IL: $2,641 a month against $3,800 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

128

Cost of Living Index in Springfield, IL
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Springfield, IL Living Index
185

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Springfield, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,641

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,800

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Springfield, IL and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Springfield, IL and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,641 in Springfield, IL versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA.

Springfield, IL $2,641
Seattle, WA $3,800

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,964 in Springfield, IL versus $5,702 in Seattle, WA.

Springfield, IL $3,964
Seattle, WA $5,702

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,286 in Springfield, IL versus $7,603 in Seattle, WA.

Springfield, IL $5,286
Seattle, WA $7,603

Living in Springfield, IL costs roughly 30% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Springfield, IL 96% above, Seattle, WA 182% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.61 $14.61

$25.32 $25.32

-42.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.89 $42.89

$101 $101

-57.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$14.85 $14.85

-31.78%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$6.59 $6.59

-21.09%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$3.22 $3.22

-39.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.14 $3.14

-49.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 $2.94

$8.18 $8.18

-64.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$8.03 $8.03

-49.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.21 $1.21

-38.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.12 $5.12

-35.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.91 $8.91

$6.30 $6.30

41.43%

Eggs

$3.09 $3.09

$4.90 $4.90

-36.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$19.10 $19.10

-0.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.06 $17.06

$18.50 $18.50

-7.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.40 $32.40

$23.03 $23.03

40.69%

Apples (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$5.81 $5.81

48.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.95 $1.95

-36.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$5.29 $5.29

63.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$6.48 $6.48

-14.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.57 $3.57

-9.24%

Onion (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.15 $3.15

42.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.85 $2.85

-30.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.42 $2.42

-32.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$12.75 $12.75

-22.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.03 $11.03

$14.99 $14.99

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 $1.24

$4.17 $4.17

-70.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$5.99 $5.99

-72.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$3.04 $3.04

-59.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.50 $39.50

$110 $110

-64.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.68 $5.68

$2.55 $2.55

122.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.64 $1.64

-33.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.14 $18.14

$29.58 $29.58

-38.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.42 $1.42

-33.10%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.7K $35.7K

1.84%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.48%

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

$233 $233

$299 $299

-22.19%

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

$93.2 $93.2

$70.8 $70.8

31.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.9 $64.9

$88.3 $88.3

-26.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.49 $49.49

$79.5 $79.5

-37.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$35.37 $35.37

-44.19%

Cinema Ticket

$12.57 $12.57

$17.12 $17.12

-26.58%

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

$931 $931

$3,013 $3,013

-69.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 $105

$77.2 $77.2

36.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 $54.9

$55.1 $55.1

-0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 $125

$126 $126

-0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$163 $163

-14.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 $915

$2,464 $2,464

-62.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 $1,164

$1,956 $1,956

-40.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 $1,889

$4,711 $4,711

-59.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,158 $2,158

$3,550 $3,550

-39.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,133 $3,133

$7,346 $7,346

-57.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,184 $1,184

$5,048 $5,048

-76.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,882 $3,882

$6,286 $6,286

-38.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.85

-4.38%

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

Last update for Springfield, IL: October 12, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Springfield, IL

$1.2K 44.1%

Seattle, WA

$2K 51.5% 68% $792

Groceries & Markets

Springfield, IL

$519 19.6%

Seattle, WA

$542 14.3% 4.4% $23

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Springfield, IL

$391 14.8%

Seattle, WA

$458 12.1% 17.2% $67

Eating Out

Springfield, IL

$247 9.3%

Seattle, WA

$409 10.8% 65.6% $162

Clothing & Footwear

Springfield, IL

$191 7.2%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 0.8% $1.5

Sport & Entertainment

Springfield, IL

$75 2.8%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 52.4% $39

Getting Around

Springfield, IL

$56 2.1%

Seattle, WA

$133 3.5% 139% $77

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $915 in Springfield, IL and $2,464 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 62% 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: $43.00 in Springfield, IL vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $519 vs $542 per month, with Springfield, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Springfield, IL

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

16:25 4:25 PM

14:25 2:25 PM

2 h behind Springfield, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

116,482

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Springfield, IL Seattle, WA 2,740 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Springfield, IL
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Springfield, IL vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield, IL is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Seattle, WA. 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: $915 in Springfield, IL versus $2,464 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Springfield, IL – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,641 per month in Springfield, IL versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,641 in Springfield, IL versus $3,800 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Springfield, IL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Springfield, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Springfield, 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 Springfield, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.