Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,338 in Fairfax, VA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,876 in Fairfax, VA versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,415 in Fairfax, VA versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Fairfax, VA costs roughly 7% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fairfax, VA 149% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$24.80 $24.80

-20.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.4 $98.4

$118 $118

-16.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$13.77 $13.77

-13.36%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.71 $5.71

-1.40%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.05 $3.05

-8.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.50 $2.50

-8.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$7.83 $7.83

-21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$7.88 $7.88

3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.35 $1.35

-29.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 $3.86

$5.06 $5.06

-23.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$5.39 $5.39

9.46%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$6.85 $6.85

-27.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.91 $17.91

$25.07 $25.07

-28.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.48 $12.48

$15.85 $15.85

-21.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$20.59 $20.59

-20.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$6.14 $6.14

-6.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.82 $2.82

-36.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$5.51 $5.51

-5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.74 $6.74

-4.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.15 $3.15

12.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.82 $3.82

-28.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.69 $2.69

-17.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.64 $2.64

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.77 $10.77

$11.65 $11.65

-7.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 $13.97

$15.69 $15.69

-10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.93 $2.93

-8.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.24 $4.24

6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.82 $2.82

81.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$100 $100

-55.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.60 $2.60

-6.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.72 $1.72

-12.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.36 $22.36

$30.22 $30.22

-26.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.19 $1.19

-29.41%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.7K $32.7K

-9.39%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.22%

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

$208 $208

$263 $263

-20.62%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$60.9 $60.9

-1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.2 $73.2

$75.9 $75.9

-3.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 $109

$79.6 $79.6

36.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.80 $24.80

$39.89 $39.89

-37.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 $15.20

$16.27 $16.27

-6.58%

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

$1,755 $1,755

$2,281 $2,281

-23.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K $30.3K

$29.3K $29.3K

3.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$68.6 $68.6

-21.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 $50.9

$52.0 $52.0

-1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 $97.1

$116 $116

-16.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

-0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,213 $2,213

$2,336 $2,336

-5.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 $1,884

$1,863 $1,863

1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,712 $3,712

$4,628 $4,628

-19.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,952 $2,952

$3,477 $3,477

-15.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,626 $5,626

$7,766 $7,766

-27.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,136 $4,136

$5,232 $5,232

-20.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,747 $5,747

$6,617 $6,617

-13.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.42

2.49%

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

Last update for Fairfax, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,213 in Fairfax, VA and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 15% 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: $98.0 in Fairfax, VA vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $547 per month, with Fairfax, VA cheaper across the board.

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

Fairfax, VA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fairfax, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fairfax, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,213 in Fairfax, VA versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Fairfax, VA – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Fairfax, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Fairfax, VA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,338 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fairfax, VA hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Fairfax, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.