Cost of Living Comparison Between Salt Lake City, UT and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Salt Lake City, UT and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,652 per month in Salt Lake City, UT vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,851 per month in Salt Lake City, UT vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,050 per month in Salt Lake City, UT vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Salt Lake City, UT is about 26% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Salt Lake City, UT and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Salt Lake City, UT by 98%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.56 $18.56

$24.80 $24.80

-25.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$118 $118

-31.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.43 $11.43

$13.77 $13.77

-16.99%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$5.71 $5.71

-9.11%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$3.05 $3.05

-25.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.50 $2.50

-27.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 $5.95

$7.83 $7.83

-24.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.44 $7.44

$7.88 $7.88

-5.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.35 $1.35

-31.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 $3.25

$5.06 $5.06

-35.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$5.39 $5.39

-29.13%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$6.85 $6.85

-34.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.37 $12.37

$25.07 $25.07

-50.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.22 $10.22

$15.85 $15.85

-35.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.65 $16.65

$20.59 $20.59

-19.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$6.14 $6.14

-14.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.82 $2.82

-25.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$5.51 $5.51

-35.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$6.74 $6.74

-32.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.15 $3.15

-17.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.82 $3.82

-30.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.69 $2.69

-30.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.64 $2.64

-24.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 $9.02

$11.65 $11.65

-22.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$15.69 $15.69

-4.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.93 $2.93

-32.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$4.24 $4.24

-43.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.82 $2.82

-10.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.9 $85.9

$100 $100

-14.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.60 $2.60

-1.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.72 $1.72

-16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.73 $24.73

$30.22 $30.22

-18.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.19 $1.19

-16.81%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.7K $32.7K

-22.82%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.88%

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

$173 $173

$263 $263

-34.19%

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

$67.2 $67.2

$60.9 $60.9

10.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.9 $83.9

$75.9 $75.9

10.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.48 $27.48

$79.6 $79.6

-65.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 $16.44

$39.89 $39.89

-58.79%

Cinema Ticket

$14.18 $14.18

$16.27 $16.27

-12.85%

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

$992 $992

$2,281 $2,281

-56.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K $18.2K

$29.3K $29.3K

-37.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$68.6 $68.6

-5.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.13 $44.13

$52.0 $52.0

-15.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$116 $116

-8.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$143 $143

-22.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$2,336 $2,336

-30.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,410 $1,410

$1,863 $1,863

-24.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$4,628 $4,628

-38.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 $2,156

$3,477 $3,477

-38.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,126 $4,126

$7,766 $7,766

-46.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,934 $2,934

$5,232 $5,232

-43.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,161 $4,161

$6,617 $6,617

-37.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.42

1.09%

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

Last update for Salt Lake City, UT: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,622 in Salt Lake City, UT versus $2,336 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 59% 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 $81.0 in Salt Lake City, UT versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $547 – making Salt Lake City, UT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Salt Lake City, UT vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,978 per month in Salt Lake City, UT and $5,397 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salt Lake City, UT, 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 $81.0 in Salt Lake City, UT and $118 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 $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Salt Lake City, UT. 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.