Cost of Living: Chicago, IL vs Seattle, WA
Chicago is about 7% cheaper than Seattle overall.
Comparing Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA across cost of living, rent, income, and the salary needed to live comfortably. Chicago has a lower overall price level, driven mainly by housing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Chicago | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 103.6 | 111.1 |
| Median rent | $1,380 | $1,998 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $1,581 | $2,146 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $1,781 | $2,501 |
| Median home value | $315,200 | $912,100 |
| Median household income | $75,134 | $121,984 |
| Salary needed (single) | $63,200 | $85,800 |
| Salary needed (family) | $91,800 | $130,900 |
Green highlights the more favorable value for each metric. Lower is better for costs; higher is better for income. Figures are estimates from public data (BEA, Census, HUD).
Which City Is More Affordable?
Overall, Chicago is the more affordable of the two, with a cost-of-living index of 103.6 versus 111.1 for Seattle. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in Seattle run noticeably higher.
You can read the full breakdown for each city on its own page: cost of living in Chicago and cost of living in Seattle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Seattle?
Chicago is about 7% cheaper than Seattle overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Chicago: 103.6 vs Seattle: 111.1).
What is the rent difference between Chicago and Seattle?
The median rent is $1,380 in Chicago and $1,998 in Seattle.
How much salary do you need in Chicago vs Seattle?
A single person needs about $63,200 in Chicago and $85,800 in Seattle to live comfortably.
Data Sources
Cost-of-living index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities). Income, rent, and home value from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-Year). Fair Market Rents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.