Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashland, MA and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Ashland, MA: $3,638 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. The total is higher in Seattle, WA despite lower rent and utilities.

176

Cost of Living Index in Ashland, MA
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Ashland, MA Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Ashland, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,638

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ashland, MA and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ashland, MA and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,638 per month in Ashland, MA vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Ashland, MA $3,638
Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $4,720 per month in Ashland, MA vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Ashland, MA $4,720
Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $5,802 per month in Ashland, MA vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Ashland, MA $5,802
Seattle, WA $7,592

Ashland, MA is about 4% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Ashland, MA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Ashland, MA by 167%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.79 $19.79

$25.30 $25.30

-21.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$101 $101

-24.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.21 $13.21

$14.76 $14.76

-10.50%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$6.50 $6.50

-22.15%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$3.21 $3.21

-10.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.14 $3.14

-22.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.97 $7.97

-24.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 $9.04

$8.13 $8.13

11.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.17 $1.17

-9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.30 $5.30

-15.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$6.40 $6.40

155.78%

Eggs

$5.96 $5.96

$5.06 $5.06

17.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$18.71 $18.71

-3.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.73 $10.73

$18.72 $18.72

-42.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.82 $18.82

$22.88 $22.88

-17.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.06 $6.06

-8.91%

Banana (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.95 $1.95

120.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$5.51 $5.51

-41.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$6.52 $6.52

-52.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.49 $3.49

-37.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.29 $3.29

-27.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.80 $2.80

-6.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.58 $2.58

10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.66 $13.66

$12.49 $12.49

9.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.34 $17.34

$14.87 $14.87

16.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$4.19 $4.19

-54.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$5.80 $5.80

-53.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.58 $2.58

128.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.41 $1.41

-28.37%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$36.8K $36.8K

-23.25%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.6K $26.6K

-0.91%

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

$180 $180

$308 $308

-41.62%

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

$37.13 $37.13

$69.2 $69.2

-46.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 $59.1

$86.1 $86.1

-31.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$76.5 $76.5

-0.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.12 $44.12

$35.50 $35.50

24.28%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 $12.37

$18.02 $18.02

-31.35%

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

$2,104 $2,104

$2,746 $2,746

-23.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.59 $38.59

$79.2 $79.2

-51.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.15 $16.15

$54.3 $54.3

-70.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$127 $127

-20.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$159 $159

-36.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 $2,102

$2,508 $2,508

-16.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,316 $2,316

$1,938 $1,938

19.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,877 $2,877

$5,117 $5,117

-43.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,820 $2,820

$3,542 $3,542

-20.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,069 $5,069

$7,374 $7,374

-31.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,390 $4,390

$5,002 $5,002

-12.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,849 $7,849

$6,470 $6,470

21.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.89

-5.52%

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

Last update for Ashland, MA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Ashland, MA

$2.3K 63.7%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 16.3% $377

Groceries & Markets

Ashland, MA

$496 13.6%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 10.3% $51

Eating Out

Ashland, MA

$328 9%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 23.9% $78

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ashland, MA

$276 7.6%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 67.8% $187

Clothing & Footwear

Ashland, MA

$116 3.2%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 62.9% $73

Sport & Entertainment

Ashland, MA

$101 2.8%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 11.6% $12

Getting Around

Ashland, MA

$5.9 * 0.2%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 2090% $123

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,102 in Ashland, MA versus $2,508 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 21% higher in Ashland, MA, 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 $76 in Ashland, MA versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $496 vs $547 – making Ashland, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Ashland, MA

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

16:05 4:05 PM

13:05 1:05 PM

3 h behind Ashland, MA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,684

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Ashland, MA Seattle, WA 3,980 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Ashland, MA
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Ashland, MA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 4% more than Ashland, MA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,457 per month in Ashland, MA and $5,677 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ashland, MA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,102 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,638 in Ashland, MA and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. That makes Ashland, MA about 4% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $2,104 per month in Ashland, MA and $2,746 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,638 in Ashland, MA and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Ashland, MA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.