Seattle, WA vs Chicago, IL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Chicago, IL is 6.8% less expensive than Seattle, WA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Seattle works out to about $69,900 in Chicago, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 26.0% less in Chicago. Goods are 3.2% higher and other services 5.9% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $2,163 a month in Chicago and $2,250 in Seattle, $1,044 a year less in Chicago (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $356,000 in Chicago and $720,000 in Seattle.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Chicago was 8.7% less expensive than Seattle.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 26.0% lower in Chicago than in Seattle
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
All items Seattle, WA: 111.1 Chicago, IL: 103.6
Goods Seattle, WA: 104.0 Chicago, IL: 107.3
Housing (rents) Seattle, WA: 151.3 Chicago, IL: 112.0
Utilities Seattle, WA: 92.8 Chicago, IL: 83.6
Other services Seattle, WA: 106.8 Chicago, IL: 100.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 103.6 |
| Goods | 104.0 | 107.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 112.0 |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 83.6 |
| Other services | 106.8 | 100.5 |
| Category | Seattle | Chicago | Chicago vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 103.6 | −6.8% |
| Goods | 104.0 | 107.3 | +3.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 112.0 | −26.0% |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 83.6 | −9.9% |
| Other services | 106.8 | 100.5 | −5.9% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,250 | $2,163 | −3.9% |
| Typical home value | $720,000 | $356,000 | −50.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Seattle | $75,000 | $69,900 | −6.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Seattle and Chicago has widened since 2008: 3.7 points then, 7.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.1 | 105.4 |
| 2009 | 108.5 | 106.5 |
| 2010 | 106.4 | 106.1 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 106.9 |
| 2012 | 105.3 | 105.1 |
| 2013 | 105.2 | 104.2 |
| 2014 | 107.5 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 107.9 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 110.2 | 103.8 |
| 2017 | 112.1 | 105.2 |
| 2018 | 110.5 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 112.5 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 114.5 | 105.5 |
| 2022 | 114.0 | 105.7 |
| 2023 | 112.7 | 102.5 |
| 2024 | 111.1 | 103.6 |
Goods
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 104.5 |
| 2009 | 106.6 | 106.2 |
| 2010 | 105.3 | 104.8 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 103.2 |
| 2013 | 102.8 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 104.6 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 105.8 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 104.4 | 99.1 |
| 2017 | 108.4 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 105.2 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 107.5 | 105.2 |
| 2020 | 111.9 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 115.5 | 106.3 |
| 2022 | 116.4 | 106.6 |
| 2023 | 108.1 | 104.3 |
| 2024 | 104.0 | 107.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 139.2 | 124.0 |
| 2009 | 137.6 | 122.9 |
| 2010 | 136.3 | 124.5 |
| 2011 | 136.6 | 122.6 |
| 2012 | 134.2 | 119.8 |
| 2013 | 135.1 | 122.7 |
| 2014 | 140.4 | 122.6 |
| 2015 | 144.0 | 122.4 |
| 2016 | 149.2 | 121.4 |
| 2017 | 156.7 | 119.7 |
| 2018 | 159.2 | 117.8 |
| 2019 | 161.6 | 116.3 |
| 2020 | 156.6 | 117.3 |
| 2021 | 153.0 | 114.0 |
| 2022 | 154.7 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 151.6 | 111.0 |
| 2024 | 151.3 | 112.0 |
Utilities
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.1 | 95.5 |
| 2009 | 87.0 | 90.8 |
| 2010 | 87.4 | 88.6 |
| 2011 | 90.1 | 89.8 |
| 2012 | 93.9 | 86.6 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 80.3 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 89.7 |
| 2015 | 103.7 | 91.9 |
| 2016 | 99.4 | 92.5 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 92.7 |
| 2018 | 102.8 | 91.1 |
| 2019 | 106.3 | 80.5 |
| 2020 | 105.6 | 81.6 |
| 2021 | 94.3 | 82.7 |
| 2022 | 87.0 | 85.5 |
| 2023 | 85.3 | 77.0 |
| 2024 | 92.8 | 83.6 |
Other services
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 104.3 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 102.6 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 100.1 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 100.3 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 105.0 | 103.9 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 102.1 |
| 2019 | 104.9 | 99.2 |
| 2020 | 103.1 | 103.0 |
| 2021 | 105.8 | 103.9 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 107.6 | 100.6 |
| 2024 | 106.8 | 100.5 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,163 in Chicago vs $2,250 in Seattle
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,347 | $1,347 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,384 | $1,375 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,415 | $1,376 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,407 | $1,363 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,443 | $1,392 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,503 | $1,414 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,519 | $1,417 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,507 | $1,391 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,561 | $1,428 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,618 | $1,458 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,632 | $1,450 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,604 | $1,430 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,633 | $1,463 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,681 | $1,492 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,681 | $1,483 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,664 | $1,467 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,696 | $1,501 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,742 | $1,532 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,753 | $1,528 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,743 | $1,511 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,785 | $1,546 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,775 | $1,545 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,761 | $1,525 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,684 | $1,484 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,722 | $1,515 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,830 | $1,587 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,936 | $1,624 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,933 | $1,630 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,979 | $1,677 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,065 | $1,743 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,089 | $1,766 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,020 | $1,758 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,046 | $1,798 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,084 | $1,851 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,098 | $1,865 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,061 | $1,856 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,101 | $1,893 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,153 | $1,943 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,159 | $1,953 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,128 | $1,954 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,165 | $1,999 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,209 | $2,055 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,210 | $2,066 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,183 | $2,059 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,198 | $2,109 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,238 | $2,163 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,250 | $2,163 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $356,000 in Chicago vs $720,000 in Seattle
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $336K | $199K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $344K | $201K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $352K | $203K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $365K | $207K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $379K | $210K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $389K | $212K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $396K | $213K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $407K | $216K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $423K | $221K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $438K | $223K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $449K | $225K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $460K | $228K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $479K | $232K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $495K | $235K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $501K | $235K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $498K | $236K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $498K | $239K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $501K | $241K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $501K | $240K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $508K | $240K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $521K | $244K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $532K | $245K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $542K | $246K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $571K | $255K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $600K | $265K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $640K | $274K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $656K | $278K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $668K | $280K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $721K | $292K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $763K | $302K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $728K | $300K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $706K | $298K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $690K | $297K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $691K | $304K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $705K | $311K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $712K | $314K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $720K | $318K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $734K | $325K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $738K | $327K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $749K | $331K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $751K | $334K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $736K | $335K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $732K | $339K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $739K | $343K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $737K | $348K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $723K | $351K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $720K | $356K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.