Cost of Living Comparison Between Lakewood, WA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lakewood, WA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,370 in Lakewood, WA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,922 in Lakewood, WA versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,475 in Lakewood, WA versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Lakewood, WA costs roughly 12% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lakewood, WA 145% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.17 $18.17

$24.68 $24.68

-26.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.0 $67.0

$99.1 $99.1

-32.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$15.09 $15.09

-26.91%

Cappuccino

$4.95 $4.95

$6.62 $6.62

-25.23%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$3.13 $3.13

-22.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.98 $2.98

-28.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 $4.11

$8.12 $8.12

-49.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$7.85 $7.85

-21.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.17 $1.17

9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.20 $5.20

-14.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$6.40 $6.40

-49.06%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$4.91 $4.91

0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.06 $15.06

$21.46 $21.46

-29.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.75 $8.75

$18.58 $18.58

-52.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 $11.09

$23.05 $23.05

-51.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.79 $5.79

-25.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.88 $1.88

19.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$5.38 $5.38

-28.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$6.30 $6.30

-34.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.80 $3.80

-40.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.26 $3.26

-32.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.87 $2.87

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.71 $2.71

16.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.26 $12.26

$14.15 $14.15

-13.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.97 $15.97

$15.07 $15.07

5.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$4.36 $4.36

-60.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.75 $5.75

-41.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.06 $3.06

-33.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$199 $199

$110 $110

81.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.57 $2.57

-21.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 $0.65

$1.65 $1.65

-60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.50 $33.50

$29.88 $29.88

12.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.38 $1.38

1.45%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.4K $36.4K

-2.87%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

2.52%

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

$345 $345

$296 $296

16.66%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$71.3 $71.3

-13.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.6 $82.6

$88.0 $88.0

-6.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.55 $41.55

$81.5 $81.5

-49.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.54 $24.54

$35.70 $35.70

-31.26%

Cinema Ticket

$19.81 $19.81

$18.33 $18.33

8.07%

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

$1,982 $1,982

$3,067 $3,067

-35.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.5K $26.5K

$30.6K $30.6K

-13.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$77.0 $77.0

-17.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 $37.81

$54.0 $54.0

-29.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$128 $128

-21.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$165 $165

-10.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,929 $1,929

$2,418 $2,418

-20.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,714 $1,714

$1,931 $1,931

-11.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,348 $3,348

$4,756 $4,756

-29.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,102 $3,102

$3,584 $3,584

-13.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,376 $2,376

$7,403 $7,403

-67.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,128 $2,128

$5,056 $5,056

-57.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.42

-4.98%

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

Last update for Lakewood, WA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,929 in Lakewood, WA and $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67.0 in Lakewood, WA vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $554 per month, with Lakewood, WA 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

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

Lakewood, WA and Seattle, WA differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($3,370 vs $3,836 including rent). Lakewood, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,054 in Lakewood, WA and $5,754 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,929 in Lakewood, WA versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lakewood, WA – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,370 per month in Lakewood, WA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lakewood, WA 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, Lakewood, WA 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 Lakewood, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.