Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Albany, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Albany, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,586 in Albany, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,819 in Albany, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,051 in Albany, OR.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than in Albany, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Albany, OR 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.26 $20.26

22.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$88.4 $88.4

34.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.09 $12.09

17.04%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.73 $4.73

20.72%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.51 $2.51

16.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.95 $1.95

29.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.09 $7.09

11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.98 $5.98

34.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.07 $1.07

27.10%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.29 $4.29

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.01 $2.01

161.19%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.40 $3.40

103.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$7.36 $7.36

238.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$11.51 $11.51

36.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.95 $14.95

38.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.22 $3.22

92.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.79 $1.79

55.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.64 $4.64

18.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.08 $3.08

108.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.89 $2.89

9.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$1.64 $1.64

137.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.46 $1.46

84.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.26 $2.26

11.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.85 $10.85

4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.12 $15.12

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.33 $2.33

23.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.73 $4.73

-9.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.88 $3.88

-33.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.72 $0.72

126.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$36.48 $36.48

-18.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.02 $1.02

11.76%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$33.2K $33.2K

-1.17%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.11%

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

$264 $264

$221 $221

19.37%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$69.0 $69.0

-10.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$62.7 $62.7

20.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.71 $42.71

82.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$13.12 $13.12

22.79%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,757 $1,757

25.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$18.9K $18.9K

53.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$61.7 $61.7

12.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$47.69 $47.69

12.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$104 $104

15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$114 $114

23.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,600 $1,600

47.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,355 $1,355

35.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,645 $2,645

77.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,247 $2,247

58.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,011 $3,011

150.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,993 $2,993

68.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,461 $4,461

45.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.41

0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Albany, OR: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,600 in Albany, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 45% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $88.0 in Albany, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $357 per month, with Albany, OR 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 Albany, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany, OR wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany, OR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 45% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,600 in Albany, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,586 in Albany, OR – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Albany, OR 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 Albany, OR delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,586 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Albany, OR hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Albany, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.