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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $3,386 in Alexandria, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,869 in Alexandria, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $6,351 in Alexandria, VA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 13% more expensive than in Alexandria, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Alexandria, VA 146% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$19.86 $19.86

24.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$104 $104

-5.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.85 $11.85

27.34%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.37 $4.37

51.49%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.75 $2.75

13.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.25 $2.25

32.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.06 $5.06

60.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.87 $7.87

-0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.05 $1.05

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.46 $3.46

50.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.18 $5.18

23.55%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.55 $5.55

-11.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$18.76 $18.76

14.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$19.95 $19.95

-6.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$23.63 $23.63

-2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$8.03 $8.03

-27.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.33 $2.33

-19.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$7.47 $7.47

-27.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$8.05 $8.05

-21.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.82 $4.82

-21.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.28 $3.28

-0.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.90 $2.90

-1.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.20 $3.20

-15.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.13 $9.13

54.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$17.75 $17.75

-15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.71 $1.71

154.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.65 $3.65

57.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.93 $2.93

4.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$78.7 $78.7

39.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.10 $4.10

-37.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.43 $1.43

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$24.76 $24.76

20.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.91 $0.91

51.65%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

2.42%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

-1.64%

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

$296 $296

$219 $219

35.23%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$52.4 $52.4

35.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$61.9 $61.9

42.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$71.9 $71.9

13.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.65 $15.65

17.12%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$2,037 $2,037

50.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$32.0K $32.0K

-4.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$48.28 $48.28

59.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$49.03 $49.03

10.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$85.8 $85.8

48.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$133 $133

23.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$2,340 $2,340

3.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,836 $1,836

5.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,442 $3,442

38.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,760 $2,760

29.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$6,683 $6,683

10.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$4,105 $4,105

23.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$6,053 $6,053

4.42%

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 Alexandria, VA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $2,340 in Alexandria, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 4% 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 $104 in Alexandria, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $562 per month, with Seattle, WA 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, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Alexandria, VA differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $3,386 including rent). Alexandria, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 4% 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 $2,340 in Alexandria, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,386 in Alexandria, VA – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alexandria, VA runs roughly 40% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Alexandria, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Alexandria, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.