Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Amherst, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Amherst, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,936 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,730 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $6,524 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 21% more expensive than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Amherst, MA 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$19.74 $19.74

25.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$69.2 $69.2

71.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.44 $9.44

49.89%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.37 $5.37

6.33%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.07 $3.07

-4.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.41 $2.41

4.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.13 $8.13

-2.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.33 $7.33

9.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.32 $1.32

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.59 $3.59

41.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.02 $2.02

159.90%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.53 $4.53

52.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$13.67 $13.67

82.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$5.07 $5.07

210.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$18.44 $18.44

12.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.56 $5.56

11.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.52 $1.52

83.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.44 $3.44

60.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.03 $5.03

27.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$0.98 $0.98

222.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$0.98 $0.98

296.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.57 $2.57

5.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.40 $10.40

9.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$13.41 $13.41

16.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.95 $2.95

-2.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.46 $3.46

23.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.02 $2.02

34.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$27.67 $27.67

257.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.67 $2.67

-3.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.43 $1.43

13.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$28.48 $28.48

4.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.94 $0.94

21.28%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$30.5K $30.5K

7.66%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.33%

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

$264 $264

$193 $193

36.38%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$57.4 $57.4

7.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$78.2 $78.2

-3.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$121 $121

-35.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$7.16 $7.16

462.57%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$10.78 $10.78

49.44%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$2,844 $2,844

-22.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

6.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$39.55 $39.55

75.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$44.62 $44.62

20.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$85.7 $85.7

39.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$145 $145

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,799 $1,799

31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,629 $1,629

12.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$4,865 $4,865

-3.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$3,446 $3,446

3.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$4,072 $4,072

85.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,982 $3,982

26.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,775 $4,775

35.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.22

3.22%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,799 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 36% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Amherst, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $360 per month, with Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 36% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,799 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,212 in Seattle, WA versus $2,844 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amherst, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Amherst, MA 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Amherst, MA 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 Amherst, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.