Cost of Living Comparison Between Lewiston, ID and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lewiston, ID and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,104 in Lewiston, ID versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,195 in Lewiston, ID versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,287 in Lewiston, ID versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Lewiston, ID costs roughly 45% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lewiston, ID 53% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.98 $19.98
$24.68 $24.68
-19.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 $57.5
$99.1 $99.1
-41.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 $13.20
$15.09 $15.09
-12.52%
Cappuccino
$5.91 $5.91
$6.62 $6.62
-10.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$3.13 $3.13
-3.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.98 $2.98
-26.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$8.12 $8.12
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 $7.16
$7.85 $7.85
-8.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.17 $1.17
-11.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$5.20 $5.20
-33.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$6.40 $6.40
-33.28%
Eggs
$4.35 $4.35
$4.91 $4.91
-11.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 $12.35
$21.46 $21.46
-42.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.68 $11.68
$18.58 $18.58
-37.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.42 $16.42
$23.05 $23.05
-28.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.79 $5.79
-14.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.88 $1.88
-13.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$5.38 $5.38
-18.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$6.30 $6.30
-24.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.80 $3.80
-27.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.26 $3.26
-7.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.87 $2.87
-24.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.71 $2.71
-17.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.13 $10.13
$14.15 $14.15
-28.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.97 $14.97
$15.07 $15.07
-0.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.36 $4.36
-55.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$5.75 $5.75
-40.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$3.06 $3.06
-35.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$110 $110
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.57 $2.57
13.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.65 $1.65
3.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.65 $29.65
$29.88 $29.88
-0.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.38 $1.38
-28.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$36.4K $36.4K
-2.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$25.1K $25.1K
2.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$296 $296
-31.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$71.3 $71.3
-17.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$88.0 $88.0
-21.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.05 $41.05
$81.5 $81.5
-49.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.70 $35.70
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.97 $13.97
$18.33 $18.33
-23.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$3,067 $3,067
-53.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$30.6K $30.6K
-24.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 $52.2
$77.0 $77.0
-32.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.12 $41.12
$54.0 $54.0
-23.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$128 $128
-31.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$165 $165
-29.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,035 $1,035
$2,418 $2,418
-57.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 $794
$1,931 $1,931
-58.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,736 $1,736
$4,756 $4,756
-63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$3,584 $3,584
-57.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,750 $2,750
$7,403 $7,403
-62.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,369 $2,369
$5,056 $5,056
-53.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lewiston, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,594 $2,594
$6,320 $6,320
-58.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
6.42
-4.67%

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

Last update for Lewiston, ID: August 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,035 in Lewiston, ID and $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 144% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $58.0 in Lewiston, ID vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $554 per month, with Lewiston, ID 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
Lewiston, ID vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lewiston, ID and in Seattle, WA?
Lewiston, ID and Seattle, WA differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($2,104 vs $3,836 including rent). Lewiston, ID is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 144% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lewiston, ID and in Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,035 in Lewiston, ID versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lewiston, ID or Seattle, WA?
All in, you'll spend $2,104 per month in Lewiston, ID versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,104 in Lewiston, ID versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lewiston, ID but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Lewiston, ID the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lewiston, ID and 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.
Where should expats move: Lewiston, ID or Seattle, WA?
Expats usually find Lewiston, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lewiston, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities