Cost of living comparison
Seattle is 2.5% more expensive than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.2% more in Seattle
- Groceries
-
pay 5.8% more in Seattle
- Transportation
-
pay 18.4% more in Seattle
- Housing
-
pay 18.9% more in Seattle
- Childcare
-
pay 23.0% less in Seattle
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 7.2% less in Seattle
- Clothing
-
pay 2.1% more in Seattle
The cost of housing, transportation, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in Seattle are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare and entertainment and sports are lower in Seattle.
If you lived in Seattle instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 2.2% more for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$22.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$13.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.45
|
|
pay 5.8% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$4.53
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$7.68
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$4.59
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$4.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$6.40
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$2.40
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.89
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.15
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.48
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$1.28
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.49
|
|
pay 18.4% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$99.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$36,656.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$16.02
|
|
pay 18.9% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$70.21
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$2,256.97
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$1,819.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$176.71
|
|
pay 23.0% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$2,134.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$28,666.67
|
|
pay 7.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$5.65
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$12.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$62.81
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 2.1% more for clothing
|
Chicago
|
Seattle
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$65.31
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$57.58
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$102.85
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$132.45
|
|
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