Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Aberdeen, SD

For one person, living is cheaper in Aberdeen, SD: $1,901 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $22,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Aberdeen, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$1,901

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Aberdeen, SD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Aberdeen, SD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,901 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Aberdeen, SD $1,901

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,696 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Aberdeen, SD $2,696

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,490 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Aberdeen, SD $3,490

Seattle, WA costs about 99% more than Aberdeen, SD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Seattle, WA and Aberdeen, SD sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Aberdeen, SD by 40%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$10.04 $10.04

151.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$65.3 $65.3

54.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$10.01 $10.01

47.45%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$4.41 $4.41

47.39%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.46 $2.46

30.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.54 $2.54

23.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.08 $4.08

95.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.17 $7.17

13.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.89 $0.89

31.46%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.51 $2.51

111.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.35 $5.35

19.63%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$5.96 $5.96

-15.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$9.82 $9.82

90.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$10.05 $10.05

86.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$18.35 $18.35

24.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.30 $4.30

40.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.37 $2.37

-17.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.76 $3.76

46.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.05 $4.05

60.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.16 $4.16

-16.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.74 $2.74

20.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.62 $2.62

6.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$5.08 $5.08

-49.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$30.35 $30.35

-51.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.88 $0.88

60.23%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

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

$26.6K $26.6K

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

$308 $308

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

$69.2 $69.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

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

$2,746 $2,746

$733 $733

274.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$45.29 $45.29

74.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$24.52 $24.52

121.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$76.4 $76.4

66.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,107 $1,107

126.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,182 $1,182

63.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$1,858 $1,858

175.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$1,617 $1,617

119.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$1,468 $1,468

402.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$1,432 $1,432

249.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$5,180 $5,180

24.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.76

1.92%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen, SD: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Aberdeen, SD

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,107 in Aberdeen, SD. 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 25% 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $65 in Aberdeen, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $435 – making Aberdeen, SD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Aberdeen, SD

🕒 Local time

23:25 11:25 PM

01:25 1:25 AM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

24,071

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Aberdeen, SD 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Aberdeen, SD

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

Seattle, WA vs Aberdeen, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 99% more than Aberdeen, SD, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,852 in Aberdeen, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aberdeen, SD, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,107 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA and $65 in Aberdeen, SD. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Aberdeen, SD – 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 Aberdeen, SD. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.