Cost of Living Comparison Between Rock Springs, WY and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Rock Springs, WY and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,585 in Rock Springs, WY versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,837 in Rock Springs, WY versus $5,544 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,089 in Rock Springs, WY versus $7,427 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Rock Springs, WY costs roughly 29% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rock Springs, WY 93% above, Seattle, WA 173% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.28 $18.28
$25.32 $25.32
-27.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4 $82.4
$121 $121
-32.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 $11.21
$14.11 $14.11
-20.55%
Cappuccino
$5.11 $5.11
$5.82 $5.82
-12.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.98 $2.98
-22.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.40 $2.40
-26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 $5.88
$7.73 $7.73
-23.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 $7.72
$7.87 $7.87
-1.91%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.34 $1.34
-29.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 $3.30
$4.91 $4.91
-32.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$5.14 $5.14
-24.12%
Eggs
$4.42 $4.42
$6.57 $6.57
-32.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 $12.56
$24.64 $24.64
-49.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.15 $10.15
$15.88 $15.88
-36.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.60 $16.60
$20.14 $20.14
-17.58%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$6.27 $6.27
-16.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.86 $2.86
-27.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$5.29 $5.29
-32.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$6.39 $6.39
-27.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$3.21 $3.21
-18.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$3.83 $3.83
-31.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 $1.90
$2.74 $2.74
-30.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.58 $2.58
-26.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.88 $8.88
$11.64 $11.64
-23.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.38 $15.38
$15.77 $15.77
-2.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.88 $2.88
-30.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$4.39 $4.39
-43.05%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.76 $2.76
-26.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$98.8 $98.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.67 $2.67
-8.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.70 $1.70
-17.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.65 $24.65
$29.74 $29.74
-17.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.14 $1.14
-11.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$32.9K $32.9K
-24.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.0K $26.0K
0.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$268 $268
-35.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$60.9 $60.9
12.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.5 $82.5
$76.2 $76.2
8.20%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.63 $42.63
$78.1 $78.1
-45.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$40.15 $40.15
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 $14.25
$15.82 $15.82
-9.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$986 $986
$2,252 $2,252
-56.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K $18.3K
$29.7K $29.7K
-38.42%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9 $65.9
$70.8 $70.8
-6.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.54 $43.54
$53.1 $53.1
-18.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$117 $117
-11.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$139 $139
-18.97%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,632 $1,632
$2,310 $2,310
-29.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 $1,335
$1,849 $1,849
-27.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,668 $2,668
$4,739 $4,739
-43.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,205 $2,205
$3,556 $3,556
-37.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,061 $3,061
$7,775 $7,775
-60.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,418 $2,418
$5,351 $5,351
-54.82%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Rock Springs, WY
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$6,575 $6,575
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.42
1.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rock Springs, WY: April 22, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,632 in Rock Springs, WY and $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $82 in Rock Springs, WY vs $121 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $539 per month, with Rock Springs, WY 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
Rock Springs, WY vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle, WA cheaper than Rock Springs, WY?
Rock Springs, WY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,878 in Rock Springs, WY and $5,491 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 Rock Springs, WY and Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,632 in Rock Springs, WY versus $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $986 in Rock Springs, WY versus $2,252 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Rock Springs, WY or Seattle, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Rock Springs, WY โ€“ a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Rock Springs, WY or Seattle, WA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Rock Springs, WY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Rock Springs, WY or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
For families, Rock Springs, WY 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 Rock Springs, WY gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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