Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,838 per month in Aspen, CO vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,157 per month in Aspen, CO vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,476 per month in Aspen, CO vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Aspen, CO is about 21% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aspen, CO and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Aspen, CO by 112%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.28 $25.28

$24.80 $24.80

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 $68.7

$118 $118

-41.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 $10.94

$13.77 $13.77

-20.55%

Cappuccino

$5.96 $5.96

$5.71 $5.71

4.38%

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

$3.63 $3.63

$3.05 $3.05

19.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.50 $2.50

10.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$7.83 $7.83

-0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.88 $7.88

-0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.35 $1.35

-14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$5.28 $5.28

$5.06 $5.06

4.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$5.39 $5.39

26.35%

Eggs

$5.71 $5.71

$6.85 $6.85

-16.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$25.07 $25.07

-47.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.88 $16.88

$15.85 $15.85

6.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$20.59 $20.59

-17.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$6.14 $6.14

-14.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.82 $2.82

-47.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$5.51 $5.51

11.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.74 $6.74

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.15 $3.15

29.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.82 $3.82

-0.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.69 $2.69

14.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.99 $11.99

$11.65 $11.65

2.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.05 $17.05

$15.69 $15.69

8.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.93 $2.93

-34.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.24 $4.24

-28.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.82 $2.82

22.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.60 $2.60

-2.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.72 $1.72

-20.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.77 $23.77

$30.22 $30.22

-21.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.19 $1.19

-29.41%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$32.7K $32.7K

7.47%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.25%

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

$149 $149

$263 $263

-43.15%

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

$59.1 $59.1

$60.9 $60.9

-3.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$75.9 $75.9

-6.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$133 $133

$79.6 $79.6

67.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.61 $16.61

$16.27 $16.27

2.09%

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

$1,432 $1,432

$2,281 $2,281

-37.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

4.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.3 $71.3

$68.6 $68.6

3.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.55 $48.55

$52.0 $52.0

-6.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$116 $116

-21.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$143 $143

2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,600 $2,600

$2,336 $2,336

11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,343 $1,343

$1,863 $1,863

-27.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,675 $2,675

$4,628 $4,628

-42.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 $2,261

$3,477 $3,477

-34.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.9K $10.9K

$7,766 $7,766

40.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,466 $7,466

$5,232 $5,232

42.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,911 $4,911

$6,617 $6,617

-25.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Aspen, CO: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,600 in Aspen, CO 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 35% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Aspen, CO versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $492 vs $547 – making Aspen, CO 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

Aspen, CO vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 27% more than Aspen, CO, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,256 per month in Aspen, CO 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 Aspen, CO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Aspen, CO and $118 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,838 in Aspen, CO 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. Aspen, CO costs $2,838 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 Aspen, CO. 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.