Cost of Living Comparison Between Puyallup, WA and SeaTac, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Puyallup, WA and SeaTac, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,285 in Puyallup, WA versus $3,178 in SeaTac, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,375 in Puyallup, WA versus $4,504 in SeaTac, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,465 in Puyallup, WA versus $5,831 in SeaTac, WA.

Living in Puyallup, WA is roughly 3% more expensive than in SeaTac, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puyallup, WA 147% above, SeaTac, WA 139% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.72 $24.72

$24.56 $24.56

0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.0 $72.0

$69.2 $69.2

3.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.30 $12.30

13.50%

Cappuccino

$5.89 $5.89

$5.90 $5.90

-0.17%

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

$2.90 $2.90

$3.25 $3.25

-10.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.19 $2.19

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 $7.54

$6.81 $6.81

10.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$5.92 $5.92

32.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.04 $1.04

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.71 $3.71

16.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$4.36 $4.36

49.31%

Eggs

$5.20 $5.20

$4.89 $4.89

6.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$11.48 $11.48

56.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.90 $15.90

$10.31 $10.31

54.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.67 $20.67

$17.55 $17.55

17.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$5.42 $5.42

-1.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.58 $1.58

3.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.98 $4.98

2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.25 $6.25

$5.10 $5.10

22.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.03 $3.03

3.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.78 $2.78

20.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.46 $2.46

14.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.98 $2.98

-14.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.85 $10.85

$11.11 $11.11

-2.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.88 $17.88

$18.56 $18.56

-3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.95 $1.95

-9.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.53 $4.53

-4.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.74 $2.74

6.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.1 $94.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.57 $2.57

2.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.72 $1.72

17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.89 $29.89

$30.28 $30.28

-1.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.13 $1.13

1.77%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.9K $35.9K

-9.19%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.9K $26.9K

-1.97%

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

$270 $270

$152 $152

77.31%

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

$70.5 $70.5

$60.3 $60.3

16.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$87.4 $87.4

-14.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.04 $30.04

$34.55 $34.55

-13.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 $19.78

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 $15.20

$15.29 $15.29

-0.59%

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

$2,053 $2,053

$1,452 $1,452

41.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$31.2K $31.2K

-4.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 $59.6

$54.2 $54.2

10.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.05 $45.05

$45.27 $45.27

-0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 $93.3

$85.8 $85.8

8.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$98.4 $98.4

42.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,777 $1,777

$2,249 $2,249

-20.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 $1,760

$1,733 $1,733

1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,303 $2,303

$3,879 $3,879

-40.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 $2,066

$2,694 $2,694

-23.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,144 $4,144

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,910 $3,910

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,751 $6,751

$6,008 $6,008

12.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.66

-3.60%

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

Last update for Puyallup, WA: July 28, 2026

Last update for SeaTac, WA: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,777 in Puyallup, WA and $2,249 in SeaTac, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Puyallup, WA pays 12% 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: $72.0 in Puyallup, WA vs $69.0 in SeaTac, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $497 vs $421 per month, with SeaTac, WA 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

Puyallup, WA vs SeaTac, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

SeaTac, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Puyallup, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making SeaTac, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Puyallup, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,777 in Puyallup, WA versus $2,249 in SeaTac, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,053 in Puyallup, WA versus $1,452 in SeaTac, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in SeaTac, WA – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $72.0 in Puyallup, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. SeaTac, WA 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 SeaTac, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Puyallup, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.