Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Madison, IA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Madison, IA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,532 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,724 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,915 per month in Fort Madison, IA vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Fort Madison, IA is about 30% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fort Madison, IA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Fort Madison, IA by 89%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.23 $19.23

$24.80 $24.80

-22.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 $74.0

$118 $118

-37.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.08 $11.08

$13.77 $13.77

-19.54%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$5.71 $5.71

-11.38%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$3.05 $3.05

-18.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.50 $2.50

-20.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.83 $7.83

-23.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.88 $7.88

-12.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.35 $1.35

-26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$5.06 $5.06

-28.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.39 $5.39

-20.04%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$6.85 $6.85

-38.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.07 $12.07

$25.07 $25.07

-51.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.34 $11.34

$15.85 $15.85

-28.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.54 $15.54

$20.59 $20.59

-24.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.14 $6.14

-18.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.82 $2.82

-41.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.51 $5.51

-21.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$6.74 $6.74

-28.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.15 $3.15

-8.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.82 $3.82

-26.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.69 $2.69

-24.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.64 $2.64

-17.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 $9.87

$11.65 $11.65

-15.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$15.69 $15.69

-5.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.93 $2.93

-39.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.24 $4.24

-18.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.82 $2.82

-30.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.60 $2.60

35.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.72 $1.72

-7.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.82 $28.82

$30.22 $30.22

-4.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.19 $1.19

-24.37%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$32.7K $32.7K

-9.32%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

-3.75%

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

$188 $188

$263 $263

-28.51%

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

$51.9 $51.9

$60.9 $60.9

-14.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$75.9 $75.9

-10.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.73 $42.73

$79.6 $79.6

-46.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$13.61 $13.61

$16.27 $16.27

-16.35%

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

$1,320 $1,320

$2,281 $2,281

-42.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

-19.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$68.6 $68.6

-24.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.61 $39.61

$52.0 $52.0

-23.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$116 $116

-24.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$143 $143

-22.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$2,336 $2,336

-32.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 $1,342

$1,863 $1,863

-27.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$4,628 $4,628

-43.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 $2,251

$3,477 $3,477

-35.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 $2,511

$7,766 $7,766

-67.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,421 $2,421

$5,232 $5,232

-53.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

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 Fort Madison, IA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Fort Madison, IA versus $2,336 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Fort Madison, IA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $547 – making Fort Madison, IA 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

Fort Madison, IA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,532 in Fort Madison, IA, $3,598 in Seattle, WA – roughly 42% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,799 per month in Fort Madison, IA and $5,397 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Fort Madison, IA and $118 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,532 in Fort Madison, IA and $3,598 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 $2,532 in Fort Madison, IA to $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Fort Madison, IA. 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.