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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,809 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,141 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,473 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 29% more than Andover, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Andover, MA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Andover, MA by 109%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$30.18 $30.18

-17.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$89.2 $89.2

32.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.83 $11.83

16.48%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$6.39 $6.39

-12.21%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.80 $2.80

3.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.28 $2.28

7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.20 $6.20

28.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.16 $8.16

0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.98 $0.98

41.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.59 $3.59

35.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$7.50 $7.50

-31.20%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.24 $4.24

55.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$16.34 $16.34

53.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$10.79 $10.79

46.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$16.96 $16.96

19.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$3.35 $3.35

85.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.68 $1.68

63.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$6.90 $6.90

-22.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.70 $4.70

38.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.86 $2.86

8.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$5.49 $5.49

-29.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.15 $3.15

-12.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.37 $2.37

7.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$12.48 $12.48

-9.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$13.83 $13.83

11.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.95 $1.95

45.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.11 $3.11

36.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.03 $2.03

26.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.37 $1.37

25.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.58 $29.58

1.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.90 $0.90

27.78%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.3K $29.3K

13.46%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$36.3K $36.3K

-27.00%

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

$263 $263

$212 $212

24.22%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$54.7 $54.7

10.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$81.3 $81.3

-8.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.96 $42.96

87.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.51 $14.51

9.65%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,283 $1,283

77.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

25.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$49.65 $49.65

41.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$76.3 $76.3

-29.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$120 $120

-0.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$135 $135

5.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,618 $1,618

42.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,356 $1,356

34.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,620 $2,620

79.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,244 $2,244

55.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,884 $2,884

182.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,050 $2,050

153.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$5,724 $5,724

14.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.71

-4.32%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Andover, MA: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,618 in Andover, MA. 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 15% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $89.0 in Andover, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $429 – making Andover, MA 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 Andover, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,213 in Andover, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA and $89.0 in Andover, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,809 in Andover, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Andover, MA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Andover, MA. 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.