Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Haines, AK and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Haines, AK: $2,570 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Haines, AK, United States
Seattle, WA, United States
Haines, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$2,570
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,570 in Haines, AK versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA.

  • Haines, AK $2,570
  • Seattle, WA $3,785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,869 in Haines, AK versus $5,688 in Seattle, WA.

  • Haines, AK $3,869
  • Seattle, WA $5,688

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,167 in Haines, AK versus $7,592 in Seattle, WA.

  • Haines, AK $5,167
  • Seattle, WA $7,592

Living in Haines, AK costs roughly 32% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Haines, AK 89% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.66 $19.66
$25.30 $25.30
-22.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$101 $101
-20.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.06 $10.06
$14.76 $14.76
-31.84%
Cappuccino
$5.26 $5.26
$6.50 $6.50
-19.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.21 $3.21
-4.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$3.14 $3.14
-42.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.40 $5.40
$7.97 $7.97
-32.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$8.13 $8.13
-15.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.17 $1.17
-14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.30 $5.30
-23.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$6.40 $6.40
-40.31%
Eggs
$4.00 $4.00
$5.06 $5.06
-20.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.76 $10.76
$18.71 $18.71
-42.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$18.72 $18.72
-31.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.63 $19.63
$22.88 $22.88
-14.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$6.06 $6.06
-27.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.95 $1.95
-6.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$5.51 $5.51
-22.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$6.52 $6.52
-27.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.49 $3.49
-26.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.29 $3.29
-17.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.80 $2.80
-33.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.58 $2.58
-24.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.27 $11.27
$12.49 $12.49
-9.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.40 $16.40
$14.87 $14.87
10.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$4.19 $4.19
-48.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$5.80 $5.80
-35.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.05 $3.05
-30.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.5 $52.5
$106 $106
-50.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.58 $2.58
13.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.64 $1.64
17.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.67 $32.67
$30.12 $30.12
8.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.41 $1.41
-2.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K $24.0K
$36.8K $36.8K
-34.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$26.6K $26.6K
4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$308 $308
-36.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$69.2 $69.2
-15.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.0 $70.0
$86.1 $86.1
-18.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.43 $39.43
$76.5 $76.5
-48.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.50 $35.50
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 $14.25
$18.02 $18.02
-20.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$2,746 $2,746
-53.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K $26.2K
$30.6K $30.6K
-14.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 $56.9
$79.2 $79.2
-28.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05 $39.05
$54.3 $54.3
-28.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 $99.1
$127 $127
-21.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 $97.9
$159 $159
-38.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,543 $1,543
$2,508 $2,508
-38.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 $1,255
$1,938 $1,938
-35.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,861 $2,861
$5,117 $5,117
-44.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,238 $2,238
$3,542 $3,542
-36.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,139 $3,139
$7,374 $7,374
-57.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,002 $2,002
$5,002 $5,002
-59.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haines, AK
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$6,470 $6,470
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.89
-4.64%

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

Last update for Haines, AK: October 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Haines, AK
$1.3K
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 54.5% $684
Groceries & Markets
Haines, AK
$406
Seattle, WA
$547 34.6% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haines, AK
$325
Seattle, WA
$463 42.4% $138
Eating Out
Haines, AK
$311
Seattle, WA
$406 30.7% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Haines, AK
$132
Seattle, WA
$189 43.2% $57
Getting Around
Haines, AK
$74
Seattle, WA
$129 75.1% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Haines, AK
$68
Seattle, WA
$112 65.6% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,543 in Haines, AK and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80 in Haines, AK vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $547 per month, with Haines, AK cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Haines, AK
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
06:58 6:58 AM
07:58 7:58 AM
1 h ahead of Haines, AK
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,713
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Haines, AK Seattle, WA 1,550 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Haines, AK
  • 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
Haines, AK vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haines, AK or Seattle, WA?
Haines, AK wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Haines, AK the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Haines, AK and in Seattle, WA?
You’d need roughly $3,856 in Haines, AK and $5,677 in Seattle, WA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Haines, AK compared to Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,543 in Haines, AK versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Haines, AK compared to Seattle, WA?
All in, you’ll spend $2,570 per month in Haines, AK versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Haines, AK compared to Seattle, WA?
A monthly transit pass in Haines, AK runs roughly 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Haines, AK or in Seattle, WA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Haines, AK is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Haines, AK or 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Haines, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Haines, AK vs other spots: cost of living compared

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