Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Eugene, OR and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Eugene, OR: $2,625 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Eugene, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,625
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Eugene, OR 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 Eugene, OR and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,625 in Eugene, OR versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

  • Eugene, OR $2,625
  • Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,832 in Eugene, OR versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

  • Eugene, OR $3,832
  • Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,039 in Eugene, OR versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

  • Eugene, OR $5,039
  • Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Eugene, OR costs roughly 31% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Eugene, OR 94% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.27 $18.27
$24.52 $24.52
-25.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0 $75.0
$98.2 $98.2
-23.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.85 $10.85
$14.79 $14.79
-26.64%
Cappuccino
$4.96 $4.96
$6.52 $6.52
-23.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.23 $3.23
-12.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.17 $3.17
-32.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 $5.87
$7.85 $7.85
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 $5.89
$8.03 $8.03
-26.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.21 $1.21
-11.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.84 $3.84
$5.14 $5.14
-25.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$6.05 $6.05
-14.71%
Eggs
$3.63 $3.63
$4.88 $4.88
-25.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.16 $10.16
$19.18 $19.18
-47.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.98 $13.98
$18.91 $18.91
-26.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.18 $20.18
$23.31 $23.31
-13.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$5.99 $5.99
-37.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.93 $1.93
-13.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$5.25 $5.25
-27.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$6.57 $6.57
-49.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$3.62 $3.62
-40.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$3.31 $3.31
-34.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.78 $2.78
-31.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.51 $2.51
-23.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.56 $11.56
$12.18 $12.18
-5.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.71 $13.71
$14.83 $14.83
-7.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$4.22 $4.22
-59.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$5.77 $5.77
-40.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.95 $2.95
-34.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.48 $44.48
$106 $106
-58.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.65 $2.65
86.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.72 $1.72
-25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.05 $30.05
$29.72 $29.72
1.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.49 $1.49
-14.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$35.9K $35.9K
-29.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 $151
$302 $302
-49.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.48 $46.48
$70.1 $70.1
-33.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$85.3 $85.3
-25.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.52 $47.52
$77.8 $77.8
-38.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 $17.26
$34.58 $34.58
-50.09%
Cinema Ticket
$13.78 $13.78
$17.84 $17.84
-22.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,200 $1,200
$2,973 $2,973
-59.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K $12.2K
$31.3K $31.3K
-60.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0 $59.0
$76.6 $76.6
-22.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.91 $44.91
$54.1 $54.1
-16.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 $100.0
$128 $128
-21.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$164 $164
-37.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,458 $1,458
$2,445 $2,445
-40.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 $1,398
$1,947 $1,947
-28.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,471 $2,471
$4,744 $4,744
-47.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,253 $2,253
$3,469 $3,469
-35.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,241 $3,241
$7,367 $7,367
-56.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,276 $3,276
$5,127 $5,127
-36.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eugene, OR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,906 $3,906
$6,506 $6,506
-39.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
6.89
-3.19%

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

Last update for Eugene, OR: October 18, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Eugene, OR
$1.4K
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 39.3% $549
Groceries & Markets
Eugene, OR
$390
Seattle, WA
$546 39.8% $155
Eating Out
Eugene, OR
$299
Seattle, WA
$400 33.6% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eugene, OR
$262
Seattle, WA
$457 74.8% $196
Clothing & Footwear
Eugene, OR
$138
Seattle, WA
$190 37.7% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Eugene, OR
$75
Seattle, WA
$114 51.2% $38
Getting Around
Eugene, OR
$64
Seattle, WA
$129 103% $66

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,458 in Eugene, OR and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Eugene, OR vs $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $546 per month, with Eugene, OR cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Eugene, OR
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
23:28 11:28 PM
23:28 11:28 PM
Same time as Eugene, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
159,150
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Eugene, OR Seattle, WA 400 km
From you
  • Eugene, OR
  • 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
Eugene, OR vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Eugene, OR and in Seattle, WA?
Eugene, OR and Seattle, WA differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($2,625 vs $3,782 including rent). Eugene, OR is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Eugene, OR and in Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,458 in Eugene, OR versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Eugene, OR or Seattle, WA?
All in, you'll spend $2,625 per month in Eugene, OR versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Eugene, OR and in Seattle, WA?
A monthly transit pass in Eugene, OR runs roughly 139% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Eugene, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Eugene, OR and Seattle, WA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Eugene, OR or Seattle, WA?
Expats usually find Eugene, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Eugene, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

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