Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,511 in New Haven, CT versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,067 in New Haven, CT versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,624 in New Haven, CT versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in New Haven, CT costs roughly 30% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New Haven, CT 87% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.23 $17.23

$24.80 $24.80

-30.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$118 $118

-36.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.84 $12.84

$13.77 $13.77

-6.75%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.71 $5.71

-11.73%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$3.05 $3.05

-21.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.50 $2.50

-21.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.17 $7.17

$7.83 $7.83

-8.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.88 $7.88

2.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.35 $1.35

-16.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.06 $5.06

-23.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.39 $5.39

-3.53%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$6.85 $6.85

-28.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 $9.41

$25.07 $25.07

-62.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.15 $10.15

$15.85 $15.85

-35.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$20.59 $20.59

-15.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.14 $6.14

-17.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.82 $2.82

-38.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$5.51 $5.51

-27.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$6.74 $6.74

-39.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.15 $3.15

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.82 $3.82

3.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.69 $2.69

-11.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.64 $2.64

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.87 $11.87

$11.65 $11.65

1.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.31 $16.31

$15.69 $15.69

3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.93 $2.93

-39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.24 $4.24

-16.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.82 $2.82

-41.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.2 $63.2

$100 $100

-36.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.60 $2.60

12.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.72 $1.72

0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.52 $23.52

$30.22 $30.22

-22.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.19 $1.19

-28.57%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$32.7K $32.7K

-9.10%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.56%

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

$128 $128

$263 $263

-51.30%

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

$43.91 $43.91

$60.9 $60.9

-27.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 $56.6

$75.9 $75.9

-25.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.12 $26.12

$79.6 $79.6

-67.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$12.73 $12.73

$16.27 $16.27

-21.76%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$2,281 $2,281

-39.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$29.3K $29.3K

-20.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.54 $37.54

$68.6 $68.6

-45.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.59 $23.59

$52.0 $52.0

-54.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 $73.8

$116 $116

-36.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 $71.0

$143 $143

-50.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,005 $2,005

$2,336 $2,336

-14.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,336 $1,336

$1,863 $1,863

-28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,010 $4,010

$4,628 $4,628

-13.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,856 $2,856

$3,477 $3,477

-17.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,864 $2,864

$7,766 $7,766

-63.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,803 $2,803

$5,232 $5,232

-46.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 $3,947

$6,617 $6,617

-40.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.42

2.34%

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

Last update for New Haven, CT: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,005 in New Haven, CT and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 68% 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: $74.0 in New Haven, CT vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $547 per month, with New Haven, CT 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

New Haven, CT vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Haven, CT and Seattle, WA differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($2,511 vs $3,598 including rent). New Haven, CT is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 68% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,005 in New Haven, CT versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in New Haven, CT – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,511 per month in New Haven, CT versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. New Haven, CT 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.

Expats usually find New Haven, CT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.