Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, MD and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, MD and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, MD is 29% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, MD is 11.9% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 23.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.63 $19.63
$25.11 $25.11
-21.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.5 $78.5
$118 $118
-33.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 $11.32
$13.84 $13.84
-18.21%
Cappuccino
$5 $5
$5.8 $5.8
-13.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.95 $2.95
-17.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.51 $2.51
-13.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.37 $6.37
$7.81 $7.81
-18.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.9 $7.9
$7.84 $7.84
0.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.34 $1.34
-11.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.86 $3.86
$4.98 $4.98
-22.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5.35 $5.35
-15.33%
Eggs
$6.47 $6.47
$6.91 $6.91
-6.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.3 $13.3
$24.8 $24.8
-46.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.81 $9.81
$15.74 $15.74
-37.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$20.84 $20.84
-22.07%
Apples (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$6.05 $6.05
15.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.75 $2.75
-52.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.22 $7.22
$5.47 $5.47
31.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$6.45 $6.45
-15.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.11 $3.11
-9.32%
Onion (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.69 $3.69
-9.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.78 $2.78
-12.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.52 $2.52
4.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.05 $11.05
$11.64 $11.64
-5.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 $16.71
$17.15 $17.15
-2.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.94 $2.94
-42.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.19 $4.19
-8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.8 $2.8
-33.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.9 $72.9
$101 $101
-27.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.68 $2.68
-34.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.65 $1.65
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.55 $23.55
$30.13 $30.13
-21.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.16 $1.16
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$33.3K $33.3K
-24.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-7.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$271 $271
-36.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$61.8 $61.8
-16.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8 $74.8
$75.2 $75.2
-0.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.84 $49.84
$78.4 $78.4
-36.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.91 $19.91
$41.04 $41.04
-51.49%
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$15.89 $15.89
-5.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,291 $1,291
$2,248 $2,248
-42.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.1K $33.1K
$29K $29K
13.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$69.5 $69.5
-25.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.7 $70.7
$52.5 $52.5
34.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 $116
$120 $120
-3.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$142 $142
-22.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,060 $2,060
$2,376 $2,376
-13.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,817 $1,817
$1,829 $1,829
-0.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,982 $2,982
$4,702 $4,702
-36.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 $2,663
$3,474 $3,474
-23.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,303 $2,303
$6,928 $6,928
-66.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,251 $2,251
$5,224 $5,224
-56.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, MD
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,681 $5,681
$6,473 $6,473
-12.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.42
2.34%

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

Last update for Columbia, MD: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.