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Compare cities βΊ Chicago vs Seattle
Chicago vs Seattle cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money Β· Updated September 2026
πΊπΈ Chicago
πΊπΈ SeattleChicago is 15% cheaper than Seattle
Living on $6,989 a month in Chicago feels like about $7,729 in Seattle β same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$333 vs $396
Per month
$6,989 vs $7,729
Local meal
$ 16 vs $ 18
$16 vs $18
Taxi 5 km
$ 18 vs $ 20
$18 vs $20
At a glance
FoodChicago 13% cheaper
CafΓ©s & drinksChicago 12% cheaper
TransportChicago 12% cheaper
StayChicago 14% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Chicago is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (18%β), Transit (17%β), Restaurant dinner (16%β)
Item by item
| Item | Chicago | Seattle | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 16$16 | $ 18$18 | Chicago β11% |
| Street food1 item | $ 7.2$7.2 | $ 8.1$8.1 | Chicago β11% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | $ 50$50 | Chicago β16% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5$5 | $ 5.5$5.5 | Chicago β9% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 7$7 | $ 8$8 | Chicago β12% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 18$18 | $ 21$21 | Chicago β14% |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | $ 2$2 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 5$5 | $ 5$5 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 18$18 | $ 20$20 | Chicago β10% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 11$11 | $ 12$12 | Chicago β8% |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.5$2.5 | $ 3$3 | Chicago β17% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 57$57 | $ 60$60 | Chicago β5% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 180$180 | $ 220$220 | Chicago β18% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 2,100$2,100 | $ 2,300$2,300 | Chicago β9% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 24$24 | $ 25$25 | similar |
| Haircutcut | $ 34$34 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | $ 96$96 | $ 100$100 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 86$86 | $ 90$90 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 24$24 | $ 25$25 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chicago or Seattle?
Chicago is 15% cheaper than Seattle. Daily budget $333 vs $396; a month $6,989 vs $7,729.
How do monthly costs compare between Chicago and Seattle?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chicago is about $6,989 and Seattle about $7,729 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.