Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Allen, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Allen, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,704 in Allen, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,801 in Allen, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,899 in Allen, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 33% more expensive than Allen, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Allen, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.11 $17.11

44.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$66.2 $66.2

77.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$8.28 $8.28

66.30%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.80 $4.80

18.96%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.77 $2.77

10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.60 $1.60

56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.09 $6.09

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.78 $7.78

1.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.93 $0.93

45.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.06 $3.06

65.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.44 $4.44

21.40%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.69 $3.69

85.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$15.29 $15.29

63.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$14.25 $14.25

11.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$18.77 $18.77

9.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.46 $6.46

-4.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.31 $1.31

115.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.01 $6.01

-8.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.14 $5.14

31.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.96 $3.96

-20.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.13 $4.13

-7.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.21 $2.21

21.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.99 $3.99

-33.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.94 $7.94

46.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.23 $14.23

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.68 $1.68

74.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.97 $2.97

42.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$61.0 $61.0

64.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.03 $3.03

-14.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.22 $1.22

40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.64 $29.64

1.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.75 $0.75

58.67%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.0K $35.0K

-6.47%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.4K $26.4K

-1.19%

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

$263 $263

$189 $189

38.67%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.99 $43.99

38.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$62.2 $62.2

22.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.56 $43.56

82.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$29.60 $29.60

34.76%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.40 $13.40

21.42%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,179 $1,179

93.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$18.1K $18.1K

61.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$39.75 $39.75

72.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.58 $34.58

50.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$87.2 $87.2

32.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$109 $109

31.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,510 $1,510

54.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,346 $1,346

38.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,469 $2,469

87.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,058 $2,058

68.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$3,727 $3,727

108.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$3,019 $3,019

73.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$6,016 $6,016

9.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.7

-4.18%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Allen, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,510 in Allen, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 10% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $66.0 in Allen, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $456 per month, with Allen, TX 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 Allen, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Allen, TX differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,704 including rent). Allen, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 10% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,510 in Allen, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Allen, TX – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Allen, TX 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 Allen, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.