Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sault Ste. Marie and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Sault Ste. Marie: $2,059 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sault Ste. Marie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,059 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

  • Sault Ste. Marie $2,059
  • Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,008 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

  • Sault Ste. Marie $3,008
  • Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,956 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

  • Sault Ste. Marie $3,956
  • Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Sault Ste. Marie costs roughly 46% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sault Ste. Marie 52% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17 CA$24.28
$24.52 $24.52
-29.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 CA$99.8
$98.2 $98.2
-28.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 CA$14.46
$14.79 $14.79
-30.83%
Cappuccino
$3.47 CA$4.90
$6.52 $6.52
-46.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.32
$3.23 $3.23
-49.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$3.17 $3.17
-57.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.68 CA$6.62
$7.85 $7.85
-40.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00 CA$7.07
$8.03 $8.03
-37.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.42 CA$3.43
$1.21 $1.21
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$5.14 $5.14
-58.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.63
$6.05 $6.05
-45.95%
Eggs
$2.98 CA$4.22
$4.88 $4.88
-38.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 CA$11.76
$19.18 $19.18
-56.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 CA$14.10
$18.91 $18.91
-47.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 CA$14.86
$23.31 $23.31
-54.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$5.99 $5.99
-47.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 CA$1.40
$1.93 $1.93
-48.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 CA$4.33
$5.25 $5.25
-41.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 CA$5.01
$6.57 $6.57
-46.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 CA$2.79
$3.62 $3.62
-45.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 CA$2.39
$3.31 $3.31
-48.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 CA$3.92
$2.78 $2.78
-0.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 CA$1.79
$2.51 $2.51
-49.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.75 CA$22.26
$12.18 $12.18
29.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.67 CA$15.08
$14.83 $14.83
-28.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 CA$2.60
$4.22 $4.22
-56.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 CA$3.23
$5.77 $5.77
-60.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 CA$3.16
$2.95 $2.95
-24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.5 CA$81.2
$106 $106
-45.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$2.65 $2.65
30.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 CA$3.26
$1.72 $1.72
34.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.97 CA$32.47
$29.72 $29.72
-22.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.52
$1.49 $1.49
-27.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K CA$37.5K
$35.9K $35.9K
-26.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-22.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 CA$246
$302 $302
-42.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.36 CA$62.7
$70.1 $70.1
-36.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7 CA$108
$85.3 $85.3
-10.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 CA$71.0
$77.8 $77.8
-35.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.62 CA$24.90
$34.58 $34.58
-49.05%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18 CA$15.80
$17.84 $17.84
-37.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$2,973 $2,973
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,984 CA$7,046
$31.3K $31.3K
-84.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.63 CA$64.5
$76.6 $76.6
-40.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.58 CA$50.3
$54.1 $54.1
-34.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.8 CA$106
$128 $128
-41.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 CA$170
$164 $164
-26.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 CA$1,262
$2,445 $2,445
-63.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$931 CA$1,316
$1,947 $1,947
-52.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 CA$1,873
$4,744 $4,744
-72.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,455 CA$2,057
$3,469 $3,469
-58.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,868 CA$2,640
$7,367 $7,367
-74.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,432 CA$7,679
$5,127 $5,127
5.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sault Ste. Marie
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,049 CA$4,310
$6,506 $6,506
-53.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.53
6.89
-19.74%

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

Last update for Sault Ste. Marie: October 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sault Ste. Marie
$931
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 109% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Sault Ste. Marie
$299
Seattle, WA
$546 82.3% $246
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sault Ste. Marie
$295
Seattle, WA
$457 54.9% $162
Eating Out
Sault Ste. Marie
$255
Seattle, WA
$400 56.7% $145
Clothing & Footwear
Sault Ste. Marie
$124
Seattle, WA
$190 53.1% $66
Getting Around
Sault Ste. Marie
$81
Seattle, WA
$129 58.8% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Sault Ste. Marie
$73
Seattle, WA
$114 56.3% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $893 in Sault Ste. Marie and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 113% 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: $71.0 in Sault Ste. Marie vs $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $546 per month, with Sault Ste. Marie cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Sault Ste. Marie
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
12:21 12:21 PM
09:21 9:21 AM
3 h behind Sault Ste. Marie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,368
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sault Ste. Marie Seattle, WA 2,850 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sault Ste. Marie
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sault Ste. Marie vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle, WA cheaper than Sault Ste. Marie?
Sault Ste. Marie is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sault Ste. Marie or Seattle, WA?
On paper, salaries run 113% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Sault Ste. Marie and Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $893 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Sault Ste. Marie or in Seattle, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Sault Ste. Marie – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sault Ste. Marie runs roughly 85% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Sault Ste. Marie or in Seattle, WA?
At $2,059 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sault Ste. Marie but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Sault Ste. Marie the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sault Ste. Marie or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
For families, Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sault Ste. Marie vs other spots: cost of living compared

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