Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Albuquerque, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Albuquerque, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,371 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,563 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,756 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 62% more than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Albuquerque, NM sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Albuquerque, NM by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$17.15 $17.15

43.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$62.8 $62.8

57.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.04 $10.04

50.30%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.28 $5.28

25.38%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.90 $2.90

7.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.35 $2.35

26.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.87 $5.87

38.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.89 $7.89

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.97 $0.97

20.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.32 $3.32

56.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.39 $4.39

45.79%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.85 $4.85

1.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$11.63 $11.63

84.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.41 $9.41

97.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$20.62 $20.62

11.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.68 $4.68

23.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.42 $1.42

32.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.25 $4.25

26.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.24 $5.24

20.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.12 $3.12

21.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.20 $3.20

1.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.95 $1.95

47.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.86 $2.86

-5.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.37 $10.37

36.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$13.96 $13.96

7.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.47 $2.47

76.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.54 $3.54

62.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$3.89 $3.89

2728.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.59 $3.59

-28.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.97 $1.97

-16.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$31.54 $31.54

-5.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.92 $0.92

50.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$30.1K $30.1K

21.16%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.3K $24.3K

3.18%

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

$296 $296

$160 $160

85.45%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$63.7 $63.7

11.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$71.1 $71.1

23.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$49.47 $49.47

64.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$14.00 $14.00

155.00%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.88 $12.88

42.31%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,511 $1,511

102.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$25.0K $25.0K

21.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$54.1 $54.1

42.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$43.70 $43.70

23.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$103 $103

24.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$119 $119

39.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,173 $1,173

106.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,096 $1,096

76.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,290 $2,290

107.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,998 $1,998

79.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,540 $2,540

191.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,264 $2,264

123.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,906 $3,906

61.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.1

5.25%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,173 in Albuquerque, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 62% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $63.0 in Albuquerque, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $404 – making Albuquerque, NM the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Albuquerque, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 62% more than Albuquerque, NM, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,557 in Albuquerque, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Albuquerque, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $2,371 in Albuquerque, NM. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2728% less in Albuquerque, NM. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Albuquerque, NM, where all-in costs run around $2,371, than in Seattle, WA at $3,836. In Albuquerque, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Albuquerque, NM costs $2,371 versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Albuquerque, NM. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.