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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,558 per month in Arlington, VA vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,438 per month in Arlington, VA vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,318 per month in Arlington, VA vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Arlington, VA is about 1% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arlington, VA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Arlington, VA by 166%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.71 $24.71

$24.80 $24.80

-0.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.8 $89.8

$118 $118

-23.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.77 $13.77

-14.31%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

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

$2.96 $2.96

$3.05 $3.05

-2.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.50 $2.50

5.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 $7.82

$7.83 $7.83

-0.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.77 $8.77

$7.88 $7.88

11.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.35 $1.35

-11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.06 $5.06

-16.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.05 $7.05

$5.39 $5.39

30.80%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$6.85 $6.85

-35.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.44 $17.44

$25.07 $25.07

-30.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$15.85 $15.85

-5.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.16 $21.16

$20.59 $20.59

2.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$6.14 $6.14

-2.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.82 $2.82

-25.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.51 $5.51

-5.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.95 $5.95

$6.74 $6.74

-11.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.15 $3.15

13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.82 $3.82

-12.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.69 $2.69

0.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.64 $2.64

-7.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.73 $12.73

$11.65 $11.65

9.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.89 $16.89

$15.69 $15.69

7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.93 $2.93

-33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.24 $4.24

-2.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.82 $2.82

26.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 $123

$100 $100

22.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.60 $2.60

17.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.72 $1.72

-11.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.73 $21.73

$30.22 $30.22

-28.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.19 $1.19

-26.05%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$32.7K $32.7K

-7.31%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

-3.16%

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

$210 $210

$263 $263

-19.95%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$60.9 $60.9

-1.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$75.9 $75.9

-4.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 $77.2

$79.6 $79.6

-3.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.93 $23.93

$39.89 $39.89

-40.01%

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

$16.27 $16.27

-6.70%

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

$2,044 $2,044

$2,281 $2,281

-10.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

38.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$68.6 $68.6

-17.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

$52.0 $52.0

-3.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 $94.8

$116 $116

-18.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$143 $143

-1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$2,336 $2,336

3.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 $1,884

$1,863 $1,863

1.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,268 $4,268

$4,628 $4,628

-7.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,611 $3,611

$3,477 $3,477

3.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,732 $5,732

$7,766 $7,766

-26.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,600 $4,600

$5,232 $5,232

-12.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,663 $6,663

$6,617 $6,617

0.70%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,426 in Arlington, VA versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Arlington, VA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Arlington, VA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $494 vs $547 – making Arlington, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arlington, VA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 1% more than Arlington, VA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,337 per month in Arlington, VA and $5,397 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arlington, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Arlington, VA and $118 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,558 in Arlington, VA and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arlington, VA costs $3,558 versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Arlington, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.