Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Akron, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Akron, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,265 in Akron, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,360 in Akron, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,456 in Akron, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 71% more expensive than in Akron, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Akron, OH 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$17.01 $17.01

47.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$76.5 $76.5

30.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.05 $10.05

49.85%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$3.71 $3.71

71.70%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.14 $2.14

43.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.64 $1.64

82.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.87 $4.87

60.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.95 $4.95

65.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.90 $0.90

34.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.49 $2.49

100.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$7.05 $7.05

-9.36%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.82 $4.82

6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$15.57 $15.57

35.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.91 $11.91

54.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.19 $19.19

25.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$7.14 $7.14

-17.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.55 $1.55

21.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$7.50 $7.50

-29.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.66 $6.66

-2.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.94 $3.94

-6.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.77 $3.77

-10.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.51 $2.51

11.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.94 $1.94

32.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.31 $9.31

49.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$14.60 $14.60

2.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.75 $1.75

144.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.16 $5.16

13.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.26 $1.26

131.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$50.1 $50.1

117.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.97 $4.97

-48.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.79 $1.79

-3.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.02 $1.02

37.25%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.3K $36.3K

-0.60%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

-3.82%

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

$299 $299

$240 $240

24.83%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$41.62 $41.62

66.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$79.3 $79.3

10.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$43.30 $43.30

85.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$17.25 $17.25

102.49%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$12.69 $12.69

39.48%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,325 $1,325

127.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$12.6K $12.6K

145.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$54.1 $54.1

43.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$63.7 $63.7

-13.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$105 $105

21.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$124 $124

28.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$931 $931

167.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$863 $863

123.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,358 $1,358

250.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,433 $1,433

154.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,541 $1,541

392.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,521 $1,521

235.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,307 $3,307

88.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.05

6.61%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Akron, OH: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $931 in Akron, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 88% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $76.0 in Akron, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $455 per month, with Akron, OH 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 Akron, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Akron, OH differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,265 including rent). Akron, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 88% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $931 in Akron, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,265 in Akron, OH – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Akron, OH runs roughly 117% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,265 in Akron, OH versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Akron, OH but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Akron, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Akron, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.