Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,247 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $3,565 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,321 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $5,605 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,395 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $7,645 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Federal Way, WA is about 9% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Federal Way, WA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Federal Way, WA by 143%, Seattle, WA by 167%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.99 $26.99

$24.79 $24.79

8.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.4 $70.4

$119 $119

-40.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.31 $12.31

$14.15 $14.15

-13.00%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$5.71 $5.71

7.18%

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

$2.84 $2.84

$2.93 $2.93

-3.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.52 $2.52

-12.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$7.89 $7.89

-10.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$8.05 $8.05

-23.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.36 $1.36

-14.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$5.07 $5.07

-26.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$5.25 $5.25

-18.67%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$6.91 $6.91

-29.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$24.95 $24.95

-46.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$15.75 $15.75

-33.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.79 $17.79

$20.72 $20.72

-14.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.19 $6.19

-15.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.79 $2.79

-43.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.52 $5.52

-22.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$6.42 $6.42

-23.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.16 $3.16

-5.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.89 $3.89

-30.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.70 $2.70

-25.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.53 $2.53

19.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.28 $12.28

$11.37 $11.37

8.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.67 $15.67

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.87 $2.87

-40.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$4.26 $4.26

14.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.71 $2.71

-1.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.58 $2.58

-0.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.63 $1.63

23.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.81 $29.81

$29.68 $29.68

0.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.14 $1.14

-1.75%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$32.8K $32.8K

8.45%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.30%

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

$129 $129

$264 $264

-51.08%

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

$72.2 $72.2

$61.6 $61.6

17.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.5 $88.5

$75.5 $75.5

17.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 $12.94

$78.0 $78.0

-83.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 $11.02

$16.11 $16.11

-31.60%

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

$1,458 $1,458

$2,212 $2,212

-34.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$29.0K $29.0K

7.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$69.3 $69.3

-25.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 $45.06

$53.8 $53.8

-16.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$119 $119

-27.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 $97.9

$142 $142

-30.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 $2,022

$2,357 $2,357

-14.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,001 $2,001

$1,834 $1,834

9.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,799 $2,799

$4,686 $4,686

-40.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,430 $2,430

$3,571 $3,571

-31.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,461 $4,461

$6,473 $6,473

-31.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.42

1.40%

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

Last update for Federal Way, WA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,022 in Federal Way, WA versus $2,357 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.

Salaries run about 45% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Federal Way, WA versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $543 – making Federal Way, WA 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

Federal Way, WA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,871 per month in Federal Way, WA and $5,347 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Federal Way, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,247 in Federal Way, WA and $3,565 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,458 per month in Federal Way, WA and $2,212 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,247 in Federal Way, WA and $3,565 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Federal Way, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Federal Way, WA. 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.