Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Seattle, WA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Arlington, VA is 5.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 1.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Arlington, VA is 8% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.54 $24.54
$25.11 $25.11
-2.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.5 $88.5
$118 $118
-25.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.84 $11.84
$13.84 $13.84
-14.45%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$5.8 $5.8
-6.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.95 $2.95
-0.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.51 $2.51
-0.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.02 $8.02
$7.81 $7.81
2.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$7.84 $7.84
12.50%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.34 $1.34
-7.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.1 $4.1
$4.98 $4.98
-17.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.81 $6.81
$5.35 $5.35
27.29%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$6.91 $6.91
-37.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.79 $17.79
$24.8 $24.8
-28.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$15.74 $15.74
-6.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.38 $21.38
$20.84 $20.84
2.59%
Apples (1kg)
$6.26 $6.26
$6.05 $6.05
3.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.75 $2.75
-25.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$5.47 $5.47
-4.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$6.45 $6.45
-11.47%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.11 $3.11
10.61%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.69 $3.69
-8.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.78 $2.78
-4.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.52 $2.52
-2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.3 $12.3
$11.64 $11.64
5.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.17 $17.17
$17.15 $17.15
0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.94 $2.94
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.19 $4.19
2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.8 $2.8
22.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$125 $125
$101 $101
24.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.68 $2.68
12.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.65 $1.65
-3.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.75 $21.75
$30.13 $30.13
-27.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.16 $1.16
-21.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$33.3K $33.3K
-11.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 $205
$271 $271
-24.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 $59.8
$61.8 $61.8
-3.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$75.2 $75.2
-7.04%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$78.4 $78.4
-2.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.96 $23.96
$41.04 $41.04
-41.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 $14.84
$15.89 $15.89
-6.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,074 $2,074
$2,248 $2,248
-7.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.4K $39.4K
$29K $29K
35.76%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 $55.9
$69.5 $69.5
-19.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.48 $49.48
$52.5 $52.5
-5.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 $92.6
$120 $120
-22.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$142 $142
-0.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,473 $2,473
$2,376 $2,376
4.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,930 $1,930
$1,829 $1,829
5.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,350 $4,350
$4,702 $4,702
-7.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,575 $3,575
$3,474 $3,474
2.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,644 $4,644
$6,928 $6,928
-32.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,073 $4,073
$5,224 $5,224
-22.04%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,454 $6,454
$6,473 $6,473
-0.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.42
2.02%

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

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.