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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Boulder, CO is 8.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Boulder, CO is 29.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 19.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.77 $19.77
$25.11 $25.11
-21.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 $69.7
$118 $118
-41.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.2 $11.2
$13.84 $13.84
-19.08%
Cappuccino
$5.92 $5.92
$5.8 $5.8
2.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.95 $2.95
9.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.51 $2.51
-3.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 $6.23
$7.81 $7.81
-20.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 $7.05
$7.84 $7.84
-10.08%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.34 $1.34
-26.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$4.98 $4.98
-28.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$5.35 $5.35
-17.01%
Eggs
$5.63 $5.63
$6.91 $6.91
-18.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.09 $13.09
$24.8 $24.8
-47.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.99 $14.99
$15.74 $15.74
-4.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.44 $17.44
$20.84 $20.84
-16.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$6.05 $6.05
-24.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$2.75 $2.75
-45.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$5.47 $5.47
-30.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$6.45 $6.45
-27.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.11 $3.11
-15.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.69 $3.69
-26.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.78 $2.78
-19.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.52 $2.52
-12.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87 $9.87
$11.64 $11.64
-15.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.07 $17.07
$17.15 $17.15
-0.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.94 $2.94
-35.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$4.19 $4.19
-8.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.8 $2.8
-3.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$152 $152
$101 $101
50.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.68 $2.68
-8.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.65 $1.65
-17.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.18 $24.18
$30.13 $30.13
-19.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.16 $1.16
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$33.3K $33.3K
-19.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
-2.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$271 $271
-28.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.5 $60.5
$61.8 $61.8
-2.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4 $71.4
$75.2 $75.2
-5.07%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.5 $80.5
$78.4 $78.4
2.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.25 $20.25
$41.04 $41.04
-50.66%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34 $16.34
$15.89 $15.89
2.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,456 $1,456
$2,248 $2,248
-35.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K $31.2K
$29K $29K
7.65%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 $72.7
$69.5 $69.5
4.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.25 $37.25
$52.5 $52.5
-29.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 $90.4
$120 $120
-24.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$142 $142
-28.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,117 $2,117
$2,376 $2,376
-10.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,875 $1,875
$1,829 $1,829
2.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,952 $3,952
$4,702 $4,702
-15.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,814 $2,814
$3,474 $3,474
-18.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,025 $5,025
$6,928 $6,928
-27.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,384 $4,384
$5,224 $5,224
-16.07%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Boulder, CO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,221 $5,221
$6,473 $6,473
-19.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.42
-

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

Last update for Boulder, CO: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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