Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Salem, OR: $2,741 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

133

Cost of Living Index in Salem, OR
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Salem, OR Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Salem, OR

🇺🇸 United States

$2,741

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Salem, OR 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 Salem, OR and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,741 per month in Salem, OR vs $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Salem, OR $2,741
Seattle, WA $3,782

A couple spends around $3,927 per month in Salem, OR vs $5,636 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Salem, OR $3,927
Seattle, WA $5,636

A family of three spends $5,114 per month in Salem, OR vs $7,489 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Salem, OR $5,114
Seattle, WA $7,489

Salem, OR is about 28% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Salem, OR and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Salem, OR by 102%, Seattle, WA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.72 $19.72

$24.52 $24.52

-19.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.4 $94.4

$98.2 $98.2

-3.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$14.79 $14.79

-17.85%

Cappuccino

$4.66 $4.66

$6.52 $6.52

-28.53%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$3.23 $3.23

-24.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.17 $3.17

-33.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$7.85 $7.85

-37.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.15 $7.15

$8.03 $8.03

-10.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.21 $1.21

-3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$5.14 $5.14

-25.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$6.05 $6.05

-31.40%

Eggs

$4.99 $4.99

$4.88 $4.88

2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.49 $14.49

$19.18 $19.18

-24.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.60 $13.60

$18.91 $18.91

-28.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.92 $17.92

$23.31 $23.31

-23.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.99 $5.99

-20.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.93 $1.93

-7.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$5.25 $5.25

-28.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$6.57 $6.57

-36.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.62 $3.62

-15.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.31 $3.31

2.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.78 $2.78

-33.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.51 $2.51

-11.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.62 $11.62

$12.18 $12.18

-4.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.83 $14.83

1.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$4.22 $4.22

-60.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$5.77 $5.77

-49.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.95 $2.95

-32.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.32 $44.32

$106 $106

-58.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.65 $2.65

33.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.72 $1.72

23.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.26 $49.26

$29.72 $29.72

65.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.49 $1.49

-15.44%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$35.9K $35.9K

-28.90%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.12%

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

$220 $220

$302 $302

-27.04%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$70.1 $70.1

-13.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$96.4 $96.4

$85.3 $85.3

13.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.21 $45.21

$77.8 $77.8

-41.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.58 $34.58

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$17.84 $17.84

-16.26%

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

$1,061 $1,061

$2,973 $2,973

-64.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$31.3K $31.3K

-48.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$76.6 $76.6

-26.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.91 $46.91

$54.1 $54.1

-13.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 $84.6

$128 $128

-34.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 $80.1

$164 $164

-51.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 $1,548

$2,445 $2,445

-36.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$1,947 $1,947

-29.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,348 $2,348

$4,744 $4,744

-50.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,064 $2,064

$3,469 $3,469

-40.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,973 $2,973

$7,367 $7,367

-59.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,981 $2,981

$5,127 $5,127

-41.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,709 $3,709

$6,506 $6,506

-43.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.89

-4.35%

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

Last update for Salem, OR: October 19, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Salem, OR

$1.4K 50.3%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5% 41.3% $569

Groceries & Markets

Salem, OR

$416 15.2%

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4% 31% $129

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Salem, OR

$378 13.8%

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1% 21.1% $80

Eating Out

Salem, OR

$307 11.2%

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6% 30.1% $92

Clothing & Footwear

Salem, OR

$121 4.4%

Seattle, WA

$190 5% 57.8% $70

Sport & Entertainment

Salem, OR

$75 2.7%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 51.2% $38

Getting Around

Salem, OR

$66 2.4%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 94.6% $63

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,548 in Salem, OR versus $2,445 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 run about 75% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Salem, OR versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $546 – making Salem, OR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Salem, OR

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

03:19 3:19 AM

Same time as Salem, OR

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

155,469

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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

Salem, OR vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 38%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,112 per month in Salem, OR and $5,673 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salem, OR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Salem, OR and $98.0 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,741 in Salem, OR and $3,782 in Seattle, WA. That's a gap of about 38%.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,741 in Salem, OR and $3,782 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Salem, OR – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Salem, OR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.