Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Streamwood, IL: $2,519 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Streamwood, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,519
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Streamwood, 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 Streamwood, IL and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,519 in Streamwood, IL versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

  • Streamwood, IL $2,519
  • Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,740 in Streamwood, IL versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

  • Streamwood, IL $3,740
  • Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,961 in Streamwood, IL versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

  • Streamwood, IL $4,961
  • Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Streamwood, IL costs roughly 33% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Streamwood, IL 86% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$24.52 $24.52
-19.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$98.2 $98.2
-22.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 $11.94
$14.79 $14.79
-19.27%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$6.52 $6.52
-17.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.23 $3.23
-5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$3.17 $3.17
-21.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$7.85 $7.85
-25.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80 $7.80
$8.03 $8.03
-2.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.21 $1.21
-23.14%
White Bread (500g)
$3.49 $3.49
$5.14 $5.14
-32.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$6.05 $6.05
-51.57%
Eggs
$3.57 $3.57
$4.88 $4.88
-26.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.14 $10.14
$19.18 $19.18
-47.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.30 $11.30
$18.91 $18.91
-40.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.36 $14.36
$23.31 $23.31
-38.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$5.99 $5.99
-20.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.93 $1.93
-13.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$5.25 $5.25
-15.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$6.57 $6.57
-26.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$3.62 $3.62
-24.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.31 $3.31
-6.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.78 $2.78
-44.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.51 $2.51
-40.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.86 $10.86
$12.18 $12.18
-10.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.14 $12.14
$14.83 $14.83
-18.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$4.22 $4.22
-59.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 $4.38
$5.77 $5.77
-24.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.95 $2.95
-30.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.10 $40.10
$106 $106
-62.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 $4.08
$2.65 $2.65
53.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.72 $1.72
19.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.25 $44.25
$29.72 $29.72
48.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.49 $1.49
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$35.9K $35.9K
-30.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$302 $302
-42.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 $51.0
$70.1 $70.1
-27.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$85.3 $85.3
-35.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.70 $41.70
$77.8 $77.8
-46.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.19 $8.19
$34.58 $34.58
-76.32%
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$17.84 $17.84
-14.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,505 $1,505
$2,973 $2,973
-49.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$31.3K $31.3K
-25.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 $56.8
$76.6 $76.6
-25.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.21 $45.21
$54.1 $54.1
-16.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 $98.2
$128 $128
-23.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$164 $164
-37.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$2,445 $2,445
-33.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,287 $1,287
$1,947 $1,947
-33.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,495 $2,495
$4,744 $4,744
-47.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,185 $2,185
$3,469 $3,469
-36.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,723 $2,723
$7,367 $7,367
-63.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,365 $2,365
$5,127 $5,127
-53.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Streamwood, IL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,119 $7,119
$6,506 $6,506
9.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.89
-6.68%

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

Last update for Streamwood, IL: October 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Streamwood, IL
$1.3K
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 51.3% $660
Groceries & Markets
Streamwood, IL
$356
Seattle, WA
$546 53.3% $190
Eating Out
Streamwood, IL
$326
Seattle, WA
$400 22.4% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Streamwood, IL
$279
Seattle, WA
$457 63.9% $178
Clothing & Footwear
Streamwood, IL
$136
Seattle, WA
$190 40% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Streamwood, IL
$72
Seattle, WA
$114 57.3% $41
Getting Around
Streamwood, IL
$63
Seattle, WA
$129 107% $67

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,616 in Streamwood, IL and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Streamwood, IL pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76.0 in Streamwood, IL vs $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $546 per month, with Streamwood, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Streamwood, IL
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
21:34 9:34 PM
19:34 7:34 PM
2 h behind Streamwood, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,535
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Streamwood, IL Seattle, WA 2,740 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Streamwood, 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
Streamwood, IL vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle, WA cheaper than Streamwood, IL?
Streamwood, IL is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Streamwood, IL or Seattle, WA?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Streamwood, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Streamwood, IL and Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,616 in Streamwood, IL versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Streamwood, IL or in Seattle, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Streamwood, IL – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Streamwood, IL and in Seattle, WA?
All in, you'll spend $2,519 per month in Streamwood, IL versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Streamwood, IL or in Seattle, WA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Streamwood, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Streamwood, IL or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Streamwood, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Streamwood, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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