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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $1,864 in Albert Lea, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,744 in Albert Lea, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,624 in Albert Lea, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 106% more expensive than in Albert Lea, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Albert Lea, MN 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$12.42 $12.42

98.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$74.7 $74.7

32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.01 $10.01

50.75%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.32 $4.32

53.24%

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

$3.13 $3.13

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.86 $1.86

60.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.96 $3.96

105.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.56 $6.56

19.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.87 $0.87

34.48%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.92 $2.92

78.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.25 $2.25

184.44%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.54 $3.54

38.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$8.75 $8.75

145.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.03 $9.03

105.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.66 $17.66

30.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.16 $4.16

39.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.73 $1.73

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.90 $3.90

37.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$3.86 $3.86

63.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.16 $2.16

75.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.78 $3.78

-13.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.13 $2.13

34.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.77 $1.77

53.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.41 $9.41

50.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.02 $14.02

7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.84 $1.84

136.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.95 $2.95

94.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.06 $2.06

48.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.84 $3.84

-33.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.71 $1.71

-3.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$35.14 $35.14

-14.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.95 $0.95

45.26%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$34.4K $34.4K

5.85%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

1.59%

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

$296 $296

$249 $249

19.11%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$44.32 $44.32

60.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$54.8 $54.8

60.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$45.77 $45.77

78.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.32 $12.32

48.78%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,016 $1,016

201.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$7,794 $7,794

291.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$33.42 $33.42

130.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$24.78 $24.78

117.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$49.50 $49.50

157.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$61.0 $61.0

170.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,024 $1,024

136.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$748 $748

158.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,608 $1,608

195.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,187 $1,187

201.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,493 $2,493

196.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,500 $2,500

102.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,037 $3,037

108.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.24

2.88%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Albert Lea, MN: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,024 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 108% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Albert Lea, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $338 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 106% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $1,864 including rent). Albert Lea, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 108% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,024 in Albert Lea, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,016 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 $75.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,864 in Albert Lea, MN versus $3,836 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 106% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.