Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Seattle, WA

😐 Solo nomad: Salem, MA is 0.5% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Salem, MA is 8.7% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 19.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.18 $25.18
$25.11 $25.11
0.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$118 $118
-14.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.86 $10.86
$13.84 $13.84
-21.53%
Cappuccino
$4.88 $4.88
$5.8 $5.8
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.95 $2.95
-16.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.51 $2.51
-15.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
$7.81 $7.81
0.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$7.84 $7.84
-11.10%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.34 $1.34
-8.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.98 $4.98
-9.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.87 $8.87
$5.35 $5.35
65.79%
Eggs
$4.41 $4.41
$6.91 $6.91
-36.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.39 $14.39
$24.8 $24.8
-41.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.09 $14.09
$15.74 $15.74
-10.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.76 $8.76
$20.84 $20.84
-57.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$6.05 $6.05
-24.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$2.75 $2.75
-53.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.4 $3.4
$5.47 $5.47
-37.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.76 $8.76
$6.45 $6.45
35.81%
Potato (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$3.11 $3.11
42.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$3.69 $3.69
-35.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.78 $2.78
-9.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.52 $2.52
42.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.43 $9.43
$11.64 $11.64
-18.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.94 $12.94
$17.15 $17.15
-24.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.94 $2.94
-39.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.9 $6.9
$4.19 $4.19
64.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.8 $2.8
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.1 $55.1
$101 $101
-45.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.4 $3.4
$2.68 $2.68
26.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.65 $1.65
-2.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.43 $29.43
$30.13 $30.13
-2.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.16 $1.16
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$33.3K $33.3K
-11.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$271 $271
-37.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$90.1 $90.1
$61.8 $61.8
45.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.6 $82.6
$75.2 $75.2
9.88%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.91 $41.91
$78.4 $78.4
-46.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.59 $14.59
$15.89 $15.89
-8.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,322 $1,322
$2,248 $2,248
-41.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$29K $29K
-20.24%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6 $71.6
$69.5 $69.5
2.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7 $57.7
$52.5 $52.5
9.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 $98.6
$120 $120
-17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7 $99.7
$142 $142
-29.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,369 $2,369
$2,376 $2,376
-0.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 $1,980
$1,829 $1,829
8.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,834 $3,834
$4,702 $4,702
-18.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,792 $2,792
$3,474 $3,474
-19.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,400 $5,400
$6,928 $6,928
-22.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,891 $4,891
$5,224 $5,224
-6.37%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Salem, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,489 $9,489
$6,473 $6,473
46.59%
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 Salem, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.