🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,630 in Mountain Home, ID versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,823 in Mountain Home, ID versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,017 in Mountain Home, ID versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.
🙂Living in Mountain Home, ID costs roughly 27% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mountain Home, ID96% above, Seattle, WA168% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.04$19.04
$24.80$24.80
-23.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1$76.1
$118$118
-35.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87$10.87
$13.77$13.77
-21.06%
Cappuccino
$5.01$5.01
$5.71$5.71
-12.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$3.05$3.05
-18.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$2.50$2.50
-22.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04$6.04
$7.83$7.83
-22.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95$6.95
$7.88$7.88
-11.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.35$1.35
-25.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42$3.42
$5.06$5.06
-32.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.40$4.40
$5.39$5.39
-18.37%
Eggs
$4.27$4.27
$6.85$6.85
-37.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.12$12.12
$25.07$25.07
-51.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.47$11.47
$15.85$15.85
-27.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.18$15.18
$20.59$20.59
-26.27%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$6.14$6.14
-21.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$2.82$2.82
-44.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$5.51$5.51
-22.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$6.74$6.74
-28.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.90$2.90
$3.15$3.15
-7.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$3.82$3.82
-26.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10$2.10
$2.69$2.69
-21.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$2.64$2.64
-19.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.39$9.39
$11.65$11.65
-19.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.90$14.90
$15.69$15.69
-5.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$2.93$2.93
-38.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$4.24$4.24
-21.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$2.82$2.82
-28.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$100$100
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54$3.54
$2.60$2.60
36.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$1.72$1.72
-4.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.07$29.07
$30.22$30.22
-3.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.19$1.19
-30.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$32.7K$32.7K
-9.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$26.1K$26.1K
-0.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$263$263
-27.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.8$52.8
$60.9$60.9
-13.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4$67.4
$75.9$75.9
-11.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.74$43.74
$79.6$79.6
-45.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$39.89$39.89
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.59$13.59
$16.27$16.27
-16.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,323$1,323
$2,281$2,281
-41.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$29.3K$29.3K
-19.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4$51.4
$68.6$68.6
-25.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.53$39.53
$52.0$52.0
-23.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4$85.4
$116$116
-26.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$143$143
-20.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,590$1,590
$2,336$2,336
-31.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,327$1,327
$1,863$1,863
-28.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,609$2,609
$4,628$4,628
-43.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,222$2,222
$3,477$3,477
-36.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,667$2,667
$7,766$7,766
-65.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,318$2,318
$5,232$5,232
-55.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mountain Home, ID
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$6,617$6,617
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
6.42
1.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mountain Home, ID: May 31, 2026
Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,590 in Mountain Home, ID and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Mountain Home, ID vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $547 per month, with Mountain Home, 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
Mountain Home, ID vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle, WA cheaper than Mountain Home, ID?
Mountain Home, ID is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,945 in Mountain Home, ID and $5,397 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.
What is the rent difference between Mountain Home, ID and Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,590 in Mountain Home, ID versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mountain Home, ID and Seattle, WA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mountain Home, ID vs Seattle, WA?
All in, you'll spend $2,630 per month in Mountain Home, ID versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Mountain Home, ID or Seattle, WA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Mountain Home, ID is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Mountain Home, ID or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
For families, Mountain Home, ID is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mountain Home, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mountain Home, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared