Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Rupert, BC and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Prince Rupert, BC: $1,989 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $21,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
Seattle, WA, United States
Prince Rupert, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,989
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,762
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Prince Rupert, BC and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Prince Rupert, BC and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,989 per month in Prince Rupert, BC vs $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Prince Rupert, BC $1,989
  • Seattle, WA $3,762

A couple spends around $3,170 per month in Prince Rupert, BC vs $5,651 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Prince Rupert, BC $3,170
  • Seattle, WA $5,651

A family of three spends $4,350 per month in Prince Rupert, BC vs $7,541 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Prince Rupert, BC $4,350
  • Seattle, WA $7,541

Prince Rupert, BC is about 47% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Prince Rupert, BC and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Prince Rupert, BC by 47%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71 CA$24.90
$23.80 $23.80
-25.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4 CA$92.0
$98.6 $98.6
-33.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 CA$14.89
$14.94 $14.94
-29.12%
Cappuccino
$3.81 CA$5.35
$6.79 $6.79
-43.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 CA$2.79
$3.23 $3.23
-38.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 CA$2.39
$3.15 $3.15
-46.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.20 CA$7.31
$8.21 $8.21
-36.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 CA$7.91
$7.87 $7.87
-28.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 CA$2.83
$1.17 $1.17
71.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.62 CA$3.68
$5.29 $5.29
-50.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 CA$4.69
$5.76 $5.76
-42.01%
Eggs
$5.07 CA$7.12
$4.89 $4.89
3.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.70 CA$15.05
$20.25 $20.25
-47.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.09 CA$18.42
$17.95 $17.95
-27.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.44 CA$18.91
$23.35 $23.35
-42.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.74 CA$2.45
$5.94 $5.94
-70.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 CA$1.47
$1.89 $1.89
-44.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 CA$5.58
$5.35 $5.35
-25.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.48
$6.57 $6.57
-40.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.42
$3.39 $3.39
-28.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 CA$2.98
$2.88 $2.88
-26.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 CA$3.49
$2.89 $2.89
-14.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.36
$2.43 $2.43
-30.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.12 CA$19.86
$12.18 $12.18
15.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.04 CA$18.33
$15.24 $15.24
-14.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 CA$3.78
$4.38 $4.38
-38.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 CA$4.27
$5.89 $5.89
-48.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 CA$3.31
$2.96 $2.96
-20.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.3 CA$87.6
$109 $109
-42.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 CA$4.21
$2.52 $2.52
18.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.11
$1.72 $1.72
-12.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.18 CA$31.20
$29.70 $29.70
-25.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 CA$1.87
$1.51 $1.51
-11.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K CA$43.4K
$36.2K $36.2K
-14.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$29.8K
$25.7K $25.7K
-17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 CA$187
$289 $289
-53.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.63 CA$62.8
$69.1 $69.1
-35.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4 CA$86.4
$84.8 $84.8
-27.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.70 CA$50.2
$69.4 $69.4
-48.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.58 CA$24.72
$35.05 $35.05
-49.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.29 CA$15.88
$17.97 $17.97
-37.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$665 CA$935
$2,819 $2,819
-76.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K CA$20.6K
$43.9K $43.9K
-66.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 CA$83.1
$91.2 $91.2
-35.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.51 CA$55.6
$55.1 $55.1
-28.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.3 CA$119
$127 $127
-33.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$151
$162 $162
-33.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 CA$1,520
$2,579 $2,579
-58.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$852 CA$1,199
$1,943 $1,943
-56.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 CA$2,872
$5,100 $5,100
-59.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,786 CA$2,511
$3,541 $3,541
-49.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,937 CA$5,536
$7,357 $7,357
-46.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,214 CA$4,520
$4,921 $4,921
-34.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prince Rupert, BC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,158 CA$4,441
$6,448 $6,448
-51.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
6.8
-31.18%

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

Last update for Prince Rupert, BC: November 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Prince Rupert, BC
$852
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 128% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Prince Rupert, BC
$355
Seattle, WA
$544 53% $188
Eating Out
Prince Rupert, BC
$271
Seattle, WA
$399 47.2% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince Rupert, BC
$239
Seattle, WA
$443 85.2% $204
Clothing & Footwear
Prince Rupert, BC
$131
Seattle, WA
$196 50% $65
Getting Around
Prince Rupert, BC
$82
Seattle, WA
$132 60.8% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Prince Rupert, BC
$58
Seattle, WA
$105 80.8% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,081 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,579 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.

Salaries in Seattle, WA are about 2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $99 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $544 – making Prince Rupert, BC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Prince Rupert, BC
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
15:13 3:13 PM
14:13 2:13 PM
1 h behind Prince Rupert, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,220
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.711 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.636 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Prince Rupert, BC Seattle, WA 930 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Prince Rupert, BC
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Prince Rupert, BC vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prince Rupert, BC cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 89%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,984 per month in Prince Rupert, BC and $5,642 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Prince Rupert, BC, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,081 there versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Prince Rupert, BC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $665 per month in Prince Rupert, BC and $2,819 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Prince Rupert, BC or in Seattle, WA?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Prince Rupert, BC, where all-in costs run around $1,989, than in Seattle, WA at $3,762. In Prince Rupert, BC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Prince Rupert, BC or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Prince Rupert, BC – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Prince Rupert, BC. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Prince Rupert, BC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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