Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,033 in Helena, MT versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,340 in Helena, MT versus $5,632 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,647 in Helena, MT versus $7,681 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Helena, MT costs roughly 15% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Helena, MT 126% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$24.97 $24.97

-20.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.9 $88.9

$119 $119

-25.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.59 $13.59

$13.90 $13.90

-2.23%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$5.56 $5.56

-10.43%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$3.06 $3.06

-28.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.47 $2.47

-27.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$7.96 $7.96

-37.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 $6.53

$8.01 $8.01

-18.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.34 $1.34

-14.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.05 $5.05

-13.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$5.36 $5.36

-31.72%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$6.59 $6.59

-36.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.62 $31.62

$25.31 $25.31

24.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$16.19 $16.19

-42.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.65 $19.65

$20.30 $20.30

-3.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.97 $5.97

-18.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.74 $2.74

-33.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.36 $5.36

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$6.61 $6.61

-17.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.25 $3.25

-33.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$3.79 $3.79

-52.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.73 $2.73

-36.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.53 $2.53

-8.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.32 $10.32

$11.31 $11.31

-8.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 $13.26

$16.28 $16.28

-18.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.85 $2.85

-40.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$4.16 $4.16

-40.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.69 $2.69

31.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.3 $60.3

$97.1 $97.1

-37.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.81 $9.81

$2.71 $2.71

261.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.73 $1.73

91.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.16 $45.16

$29.46 $29.46

53.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.20 $1.20

-25.00%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$33.6K $33.6K

7.53%

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

$31.1K $31.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

19.66%

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

$363 $363

$266 $266

36.13%

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

$76.2 $76.2

$60.4 $60.4

26.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$91.7 $91.7

$76.2 $76.2

20.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.11 $49.11

$79.2 $79.2

-37.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 $15.13

$40.51 $40.51

-62.65%

Cinema Ticket

$10.55 $10.55

$16.22 $16.22

-34.96%

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

$1,910 $1,910

$2,280 $2,280

-16.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

-23.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 $61.3

$69.6 $69.6

-11.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$117 $117

$52.6 $52.6

122.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 $88.8

$120 $120

-25.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$143 $143

-19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,680 $1,680

$2,378 $2,378

-29.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,866 $1,866

-24.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,609 $2,609

$4,724 $4,724

-44.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$3,510 $3,510

-37.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,881 $3,881

$7,711 $7,711

-49.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,169 $3,169

$5,381 $5,381

-41.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,879 $6,879

$6,493 $6,493

5.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

6.42

4.52%

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

Last update for Helena, MT: April 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,680 in Helena, MT and $2,378 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Helena, MT pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Helena, MT vs $119 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $453 vs $544 per month, with Helena, MT 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

Helena, MT vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Helena, MT and Seattle, WA differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($3,033 vs $3,583 including rent). Helena, MT is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Helena, MT pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,680 in Helena, MT versus $2,378 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,910 in Helena, MT versus $2,280 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Helena, MT is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Helena, MT and Seattle, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Helena, MT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.