Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Alexandria, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Alexandria, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,157 in Alexandria, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,977 in Alexandria, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,796 in Alexandria, LA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 78% more expensive than in Alexandria, LA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Alexandria, LA 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$15.92 $15.92

55.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$51.9 $51.9

91.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.03 $10.03

50.45%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.41 $5.41

22.37%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.45 $2.45

27.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.20 $2.20

35.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.02 $6.02

34.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.02 $8.02

-2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.37 $1.37

-14.60%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$1.67 $1.67

211.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$6.23 $6.23

2.73%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.60 $5.60

-12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$8.62 $8.62

148.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$6.56 $6.56

183.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.38 $15.38

49.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.18 $5.18

11.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.34 $1.34

40.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.65 $5.65

11.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.20 $4.20

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.17 $2.17

50.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.25 $2.25

27.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.63 $2.63

3.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.97 $8.97

57.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$16.69 $16.69

-9.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.53 $2.53

72.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.86 $3.86

48.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.49 $3.49

-26.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.47 $1.47

12.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$34.59 $34.59

-13.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.68 $0.68

102.94%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

2.36%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

-1.49%

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

$296 $296

$179 $179

65.02%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$71.7 $71.7

-0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$74.5 $74.5

18.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.40 $12.40

47.82%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,536 $1,536

99.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$10.4K $10.4K

193.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$56.7 $56.7

35.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$42.70 $42.70

26.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$86.1 $86.1

48.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$122 $122

35.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$940 $940

157.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$980 $980

97.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,419 $1,419

235.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,280 $1,280

179.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,252 $1,252

491.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,253 $1,253

303.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,055 $3,055

106.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.07

5.77%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Alexandria, LA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $940 in Alexandria, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 107% 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 $52.0 in Alexandria, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $378 per month, with Alexandria, LA 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 Alexandria, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria, LA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 107% 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 $940 in Alexandria, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,157 in Alexandria, LA – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,157 in Alexandria, LA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Alexandria, LA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria, LA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alexandria, LA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Alexandria, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.