Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Albert Lea, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Albert Lea, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $1,860 in Albert Lea, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $2,743 in Albert Lea, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $3,627 in Albert Lea, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 94% more expensive than in Albert Lea, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Albert Lea, MN 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$14.85 $14.85

66.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$70.8 $70.8

71.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.31 $10.31

35.98%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.59 $5.59

-0.54%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.95 $1.95

56.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.48 $1.48

61.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.41 $4.41

80.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.11 $6.11

32.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.87 $0.87

58.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.91 $2.91

70.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.17 $2.17

146.54%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.22 $3.22

104.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$9.05 $9.05

174.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.06 $11.06

43.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$16.00 $16.00

26.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.50 $4.50

37.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.15 $1.15

140.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.35 $5.35

0.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.80 $4.80

35.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.58 $2.58

24.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.34 $2.34

60.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.05 $2.05

38.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.25 $2.25

16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.42 $9.42

24.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$13.83 $13.83

11.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.27 $2.27

24.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.40 $3.40

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.97 $1.97

40.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.57 $3.57

-27.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.37 $1.37

20.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$44.15 $44.15

-32.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$38.9K $38.9K

-14.73%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.2K $27.2K

-4.53%

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

$270 $270

$208 $208

29.52%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$55.9 $55.9

6.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$72.1 $72.1

3.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.48 $42.48

82.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$12.60 $12.60

25.24%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$961 $961

137.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.3K $23.3K

28.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$45.13 $45.13

54.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$25.23 $25.23

107.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$49.52 $49.52

137.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$59.0 $59.0

143.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,116 $1,116

109.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$752 $752

152.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,693 $1,693

180.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,273 $1,273

172.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,981 $2,981

158.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,434 $2,434

104.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$2,965 $2,965

123.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Albert Lea, MN: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,116 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 124% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $71.0 in Albert Lea, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $358 per month, with Albert Lea, MN 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 Albert Lea, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Albert Lea, MN differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($3,604 vs $1,860 including rent). Albert Lea, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 124% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,116 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $961 in Albert Lea, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Albert Lea, MN – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,860 in Albert Lea, MN versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Albert Lea, MN but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Albert Lea, MN 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Albert Lea, MN 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 Albert Lea, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.