Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, SD and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, SD and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,538 per month in Brookings, SD vs $3,634 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,607 per month in Brookings, SD vs $5,545 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,676 per month in Brookings, SD vs $7,456 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Brookings, SD is about 30% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brookings, SD and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Brookings, SD by 89%, Seattle, WA by 170%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.56 $17.56

$24.77 $24.77

-29.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.13 $40.13

$119 $119

-66.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.59 $11.59

$13.78 $13.78

-15.89%

Cappuccino

$4.37 $4.37

$5.61 $5.61

-22.10%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$2.89 $2.89

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.46 $2.46

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$7.96 $7.96

-26.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$8.21 $8.21

-14.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.39 $1.39

-33.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.86 $4.86

-24.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$5.16 $5.16

7.56%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$6.61 $6.61

-36.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$25.06 $25.06

-55.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.03 $14.03

$15.77 $15.77

-11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.81 $11.81

$20.32 $20.32

-41.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$6.23 $6.23

3.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.74 $2.74

-42.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.97 $6.97

$5.33 $5.33

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$6.49 $6.49

-15.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.09 $3.09

2.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.86 $3.86

-5.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.75 $2.75

-6.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.55 $2.55

-29.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.14 $12.14

$11.35 $11.35

6.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 $12.17

$15.48 $15.48

-21.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.84 $2.84

-20.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.24 $4.24

15.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.69 $2.69

-27.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.57 $2.57

84.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.72 $1.72

1.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.37 $24.37

$30.17 $30.17

-19.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.15 $1.15

-20.00%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$33.3K $33.3K

-10.98%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.46%

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

$163 $163

$263 $263

-38.21%

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

$50.7 $50.7

$60.2 $60.2

-15.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 $68.9

$74.3 $74.3

-7.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 $42.15

$80.6 $80.6

-47.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 $12.23

$15.91 $15.91

-23.13%

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

$1,619 $1,619

$2,281 $2,281

-29.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.7K $26.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

-10.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.79 $42.79

$70.0 $70.0

-38.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.43 $34.43

$53.8 $53.8

-36.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 $88.9

$119 $119

-25.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$143 $143

-19.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$2,312 $2,312

-31.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,829 $1,829

-25.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,676 $2,676

$4,694 $4,694

-42.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,246 $2,246

$3,491 $3,491

-35.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,743 $2,743

$8,154 $8,154

-66.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,071 $3,071

$5,200 $5,200

-40.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

6.42

-14.33%

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

Last update for Brookings, SD: June 8, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,573 in Brookings, SD versus $2,312 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Brookings, SD versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $538 – making Brookings, SD 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

Brookings, SD vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than Brookings, SD, 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 $3,807 per month in Brookings, SD and $5,452 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brookings, SD, 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 $40.00 in Brookings, SD and $119 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Brookings, SD, where all-in costs run around $2,538, than in Seattle, WA at $3,634. In Brookings, SD it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brookings, SD costs $2,538 versus $3,634 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 Brookings, SD. 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.