Cost of Living

Seattle, United States

Live cost-of-living data for Seattle — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
85/ 10015% cheaper than New York
-2% rent since Jul 2026
$6,400/mo
Median Income
68/100
Safety
0%
Income Tax
maritime temperate
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
95/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,310/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,800/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$3,640/month
Food & Groceries
72/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.8/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
65/100
Monthly Transit Pass$108/month
One-Way Ticket$3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.1/km
Utilities
60/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$220/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$65/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$50/month
Healthcare
75/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$150/visit
Dentist Visit$120/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$35/course
Education
80/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,800/month
International Primary School (yearly)$25,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$800/course
Entertainment
70/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$16.66/ticket
Theater Ticket$60/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
75/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$85/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$55/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$120/pair
Personal Care
65/100
Haircut (Men)$35/cut
Haircut (Women)$60/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$8/bottle
Dining Out
70/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$18/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$100/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$12/meal
Childcare
85/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$2,000/month
Babysitter (per hour)$20/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$32/pack
Fitness & Sports
60/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$82/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$28/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

512 Mbps
Internet Speed
$300
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
74/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Capitol Hill, Ballard, Queen Anne

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seattle cheap to live in?

Seattle has a cost of living index of 85/100, where New York = 100. It is 15% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $3,040–$4,256 per month.

How much does rent cost in Seattle?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Seattle costs approximately $2,310/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,800/month.

Is Seattle good for digital nomads?

Seattle has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 512 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $300/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Seattle?

The median net monthly salary in Seattle is approximately $6,400 USD. The income tax rate is around 0%.

How does Seattle compare to New York for cost of living?

Seattle (cost index 85) is 15% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $375/month by moving from New York to Seattle.

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