Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Airway Heights, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Airway Heights, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,759 in Airway Heights, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,926 in Airway Heights, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,094 in Airway Heights, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 33% more expensive than Airway Heights, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Airway Heights, WA 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$20.35 $20.35

24.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$64.6 $64.6

87.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.79 $11.79

19.68%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.86 $4.86

19.75%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.57 $2.57

15.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.99 $1.99

20.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.14 $6.14

25.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.57 $6.57

19.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.95 $0.95

41.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.07 $3.07

59.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.21 $6.21

-17.23%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.61 $4.61

42.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$16.63 $16.63

48.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$14.75 $14.75

7.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.95 $15.95

26.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.18 $5.18

21.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.88 $1.88

52.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.16 $5.16

2.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.73 $5.73

11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.80 $2.80

14.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.77 $2.77

38.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.01 $2.01

36.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.05 $2.05

25.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.46 $11.46

1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.82 $14.82

6.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.76 $1.76

63.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.06 $5.06

-13.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.03 $2.03

35.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.13 $5.13

-47.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.71 $1.71

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$39.30 $39.30

-24.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.94 $0.94

21.28%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$27.8K $27.8K

18.36%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.50%

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

$268 $268

0.15%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$56.0 $56.0

8.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$73.5 $73.5

3.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.88 $42.88

82.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$15.27 $15.27

3.60%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,433 $1,433

57.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$16.2K $16.2K

83.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$51.6 $51.6

37.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$49.87 $49.87

6.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.6 $85.6

36.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$94.2 $94.2

47.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,578 $1,578

46.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,352 $1,352

36.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,603 $2,603

82.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,193 $2,193

62.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,900 $2,900

168.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,056 $2,056

160.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,217 $4,217

55.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.64

-3.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Airway Heights, WA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,578 in Airway Heights, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 56% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $65 in Airway Heights, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $437 per month, with Airway Heights, WA cheaper across the board.

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 Airway Heights, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Airway Heights, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Airway Heights, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 56% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,578 in Airway Heights, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,759 in Airway Heights, WA – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Airway Heights, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Airway Heights, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,759 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Airway Heights, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Airway Heights, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Airway Heights, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.