Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Fort Lauderdale, FL: $3,414 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

166

Cost of Living Index in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Learn more

Fort Lauderdale, FL Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
Learn more

Seattle, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

Fort Lauderdale, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,414

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,414 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Fort Lauderdale, FL $3,414
Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $5,025 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Fort Lauderdale, FL $5,025
Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $6,636 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Fort Lauderdale, FL $6,636
Seattle, WA $7,592

Fort Lauderdale, FL is about 10% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Fort Lauderdale, FL and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Fort Lauderdale, FL by 151%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.40 $29.40

$25.30 $25.30

16.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.7 $99.7

$101 $101

-1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.55 $14.55

$14.76 $14.76

-1.42%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$6.50 $6.50

-21.54%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$3.21 $3.21

-6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.14 $3.14

-30.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$7.97 $7.97

-23.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$8.13 $8.13

-14.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.17 $1.17

-12.82%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.30 $5.30

-5.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$6.40 $6.40

-41.41%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$5.06 $5.06

-3.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.22 $17.22

$18.71 $18.71

-7.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.33 $10.33

$18.72 $18.72

-44.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.42 $26.42

$22.88 $22.88

15.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.06 $6.06

6.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.51 $5.51

-20.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$6.52 $6.52

-18.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.49 $3.49

-17.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.29 $3.29

-3.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.80 $2.80

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.58 $2.58

-30.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.52 $9.52

$12.49 $12.49

-23.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

$14.87 $14.87

-20.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.19 $4.19

-28.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$5.80 $5.80

-63.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.05 $3.05

-32.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.0 $71.0

$106 $106

-33.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.01 $4.01

$2.58 $2.58

55.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.64 $1.64

10.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.92 $23.92

$30.12 $30.12

-20.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.41 $1.41

-27.66%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$36.8K $36.8K

-23.04%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

0.14%

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

$212 $212

$308 $308

-31.15%

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

$64.8 $64.8

$69.2 $69.2

-6.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.7 $80.7

$86.1 $86.1

-6.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.90 $42.90

$76.5 $76.5

-43.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.34 $14.34

$35.50 $35.50

-59.61%

Cinema Ticket

$17.92 $17.92

$18.02 $18.02

-0.55%

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

$1,026 $1,026

$2,746 $2,746

-62.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.2K $41.2K

$30.6K $30.6K

34.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 $46.35

$79.2 $79.2

-41.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.77 $41.77

$54.3 $54.3

-23.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$127 $127

-31.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$159 $159

-26.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,687 $2,687

$2,508 $2,508

7.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,893 $1,893

$1,938 $1,938

-2.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,985 $4,985

$5,117 $5,117

-2.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,168 $3,168

$3,542 $3,542

-10.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,795 $5,795

$7,374 $7,374

-21.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,254 $4,254

$5,002 $5,002

-14.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,757 $4,757

$6,470 $6,470

-26.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.89

-3.77%

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

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$1.9K 55.5%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 2.4% $45

Groceries & Markets

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$456 13.4%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 20% $91

Eating Out

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$405 11.9%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 0.3% $1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$357 10.5%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 29.5% $106

Clothing & Footwear

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$131 3.9%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 43.6% $57

Getting Around

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$92 2.7%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 39.8% $37

Sport & Entertainment

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$79 2.3%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 42.9% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,687 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $2,508 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 36% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $456 vs $547 – making Fort Lauderdale, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Fort Lauderdale, FL

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

11:00 11:00 AM

08:00 8:00 AM

3 h behind Fort Lauderdale, FL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

165,521

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Fort Lauderdale, FL Seattle, WA 4,370 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Fort Lauderdale, FL
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

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 11% more than Fort Lauderdale, FL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,121 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $5,677 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,687 in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 20% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,414 in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,414 in Fort Lauderdale, FL to $3,785 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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.