Cost of Living Comparison Between Maple Valley, WA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Maple Valley, WA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Maple Valley, WA vs $3,661 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,735 per month in Maple Valley, WA vs $5,544 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,941 per month in Maple Valley, WA vs $7,427 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Maple Valley, WA is about 31% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Maple Valley, WA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Maple Valley, WA by 89%, Seattle, WA by 173%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.72 $17.72

$25.32 $25.32

-30.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.3 $71.3

$121 $121

-41.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 $10.42

$14.11 $14.11

-26.15%

Cappuccino

$4.64 $4.64

$5.82 $5.82

-20.27%

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

$0.97 $0.97

$2.98 $2.98

-67.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.40 $2.40

17.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 $3.99

$7.73 $7.73

-48.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 $6.06

$7.87 $7.87

-23.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.34 $1.34

-22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$4.91 $4.91

-25.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$5.14 $5.14

-17.12%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$6.57 $6.57

-35.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$24.64 $24.64

-30.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.30 $10.30

$15.88 $15.88

-35.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.79 $16.79

$20.14 $20.14

-16.63%

Apples (1kg)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.27 $6.27

29.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.86 $2.86

-43.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.29 $5.29

-17.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.39 $6.39

-17.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.21 $3.21

-8.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.83 $3.83

-28.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.74 $2.74

-6.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.58 $2.58

28.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.61 $12.61

$11.64 $11.64

8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.71 $19.71

$15.77 $15.77

24.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.88 $2.88

-31.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.39 $4.39

4.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.76 $2.76

-28.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 $4.98

$2.67 $2.67

86.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.70 $1.70

-54.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.1 $53.1

$29.74 $29.74

78.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.14 $1.14

1.75%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$32.9K $32.9K

5.58%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

0.23%

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

$119 $119

$268 $268

-55.71%

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

$61.5 $61.5

$60.9 $60.9

0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.5 $88.5

$76.2 $76.2

16.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.16 $43.16

$78.1 $78.1

-44.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 $11.20

$15.82 $15.82

-29.20%

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

$1,456 $1,456

$2,252 $2,252

-35.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

-20.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 $51.0

$70.8 $70.8

-27.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.5 $59.5

$53.1 $53.1

11.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 $90.4

$117 $117

-22.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 $97.0

$139 $139

-30.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 $1,630

$2,310 $2,310

-29.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$1,849 $1,849

-27.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,936 $2,936

$4,739 $4,739

-38.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 $2,259

$3,556 $3,556

-36.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$7,775 $7,775

-64.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,415 $2,415

$5,351 $5,351

-54.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

6.42

3.74%

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

Last update for Maple Valley, WA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,630 in Maple Valley, WA versus $2,310 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 $71 in Maple Valley, WA versus $121 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $452 vs $539 – making Maple Valley, WA 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA, $3,661 in Seattle, WA – roughly 45% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Maple Valley, WA and $5,491 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA and $3,661 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,456 per month in Maple Valley, WA and $2,252 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA and $3,661 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 $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA to $3,661 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 Maple Valley, WA. 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.