Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 20.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 43% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 32.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 44.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.07 $18.07

$25.11 $25.11

-28.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.34 $44.34

$118 $118

-62.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 $9.04

$13.84 $13.84

-34.68%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.8 $5.8

-9.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.95 $2.95

-33.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.51 $2.51

-30.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 $2.99

$7.81 $7.81

-61.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.84 $7.84

-11.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.34 $1.34

-24.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$4.98 $4.98

-26.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$5.35 $5.35

-41.87%

Eggs

$3.29 $3.29

$6.91 $6.91

-52.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$24.8 $24.8

-61.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.6 $11.6

$15.74 $15.74

-26.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$20.84 $20.84

-32.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$6.05 $6.05

-15.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$2.75 $2.75

-58.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.47 $5.47

5.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.1 $5.1

$6.45 $6.45

-20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.11 $3.11

20.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.69 $3.69

1.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.78 $2.78

-28.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.52 $2.52

-21.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9 $9

$11.64 $11.64

-22.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$17.15 $17.15

-5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.94 $2.94

-41.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.19 $4.19

4.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.8 $2.8

-46.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.13 $47.13

$101 $101

-53.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.9 $4.9

$2.68 $2.68

82.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.65 $1.65

-15.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.16 $49.16

$30.13 $30.13

63.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$1.16 $1.16

-31.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K $24.7K

$33.3K $33.3K

-25.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 $189

$271 $271

-30.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.48 $48.48

$61.8 $61.8

-21.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$75.2 $75.2

-1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.5 $68.5

$78.4 $78.4

-12.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.74 $19.74

$41.04 $41.04

-51.90%

Cinema Ticket

$13.9 $13.9

$15.89 $15.89

-12.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,470 $1,470

$2,248 $2,248

-34.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K $30.2K

$29K $29K

4.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.64 $38.64

$69.5 $69.5

-44.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.65 $42.65

$52.5 $52.5

-18.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 $84.4

$120 $120

-29.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$142 $142

-18.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 $989

$2,376 $2,376

-58.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 $837

$1,829 $1,829

-54.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$4,702 $4,702

-58.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 $1,676

$3,474 $3,474

-51.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$6,928 $6,928

-66.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,182 $2,182

$5,224 $5,224

-58.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,732 $3,732

$6,473 $6,473

-42.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.42

-6.23%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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