Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Andover, MA: $2,787 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

182

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Andover, MA
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Andover, MA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,762

/mo nomad

Andover, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,787

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Andover, MA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Andover, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,762 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,787 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,762
Andover, MA $2,787

A couple spends around $5,651 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,130 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,651
Andover, MA $4,130

A family of three spends $7,541 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,473 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,541
Andover, MA $5,473

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than Andover, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Seattle, WA and Andover, MA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Andover, MA by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.80 $23.80

$20.86 $20.86

14.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$90.8 $90.8

8.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.94 $14.94

$11.91 $11.91

25.44%

Cappuccino

$6.79 $6.79

$4.35 $4.35

56.09%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$3.29 $3.29

-1.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.47 $1.47

114.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.79 $6.79

20.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.30 $7.30

7.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.53 $1.53

-23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.91 $4.91

7.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.16 $4.16

38.46%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.04 $5.04

-2.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.25 $20.25

$22.79 $22.79

-11.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

$13.01 $13.01

37.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.35 $23.35

$17.20 $17.20

35.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$7.15 $7.15

-16.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.11 $2.11

-10.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.54 $4.54

17.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.40 $4.40

49.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.57 $1.57

115.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.73 $2.73

5.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.11 $1.11

160.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.05 $3.05

-20.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$13.76 $13.76

-11.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$16.06 $16.06

-5.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.76 $1.76

148.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.05 $2.05

187.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.84 $1.84

60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$64.4 $64.4

69.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$5.11 $5.11

-50.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.30 $2.30

-25.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$48.65 $48.65

-38.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.15 $1.15

31.30%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$28.2K $28.2K

28.16%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.00%

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

$289 $289

$190 $190

51.77%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$54.1 $54.1

27.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$53.6 $53.6

58.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$41.72 $41.72

66.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.05 $35.05

Cinema Ticket

$17.97 $17.97

$13.20 $13.20

36.14%

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

$2,819 $2,819

$818 $818

244.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.9K $43.9K

$35.1K $35.1K

25.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.2 $91.2

$58.8 $58.8

55.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$38.10 $38.10

44.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$53.0 $53.0

139.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$79.6 $79.6

103.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,579 $2,579

$1,586 $1,586

62.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 $1,943

$1,436 $1,436

35.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,100 $5,100

$2,547 $2,547

100.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,541 $3,541

$2,384 $2,384

48.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,357 $7,357

$2,989 $2,989

146.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,921 $4,921

$2,534 $2,534

94.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,448 $6,448

$5,661 $5,661

13.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

6.59

3.19%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Andover, MA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.6%

Andover, MA

$1.4K 51.5% 26.1% $507

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$544 14.5%

Andover, MA

$471 16.9% 13.4% $73

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$443 11.8%

Andover, MA

$298 10.7% 32.7% $145

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$399 10.6%

Andover, MA

$322 11.6% 19.2% $77

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$196 5.2%

Andover, MA

$103 3.7% 47.3% $93

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5%

Andover, MA

$88 3.2% 33.2% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$105 2.8%

Andover, MA

$68 2.4% 35.4% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,579 in Seattle, WA versus $1,586 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 14% 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 $99 in Seattle, WA versus $91 in Andover, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $471 – making Andover, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Andover, MA

🕒 Local time

07:31 7:31 AM

10:31 10:31 AM

3 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

33,475

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Seattle, WA Andover, MA 3,980 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Andover, MA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 35%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,642 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,180 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,586 there versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA.

Kindergarten costs $2,819 per month in Seattle, WA and $818 in Andover, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,762 in Seattle, WA and $2,787 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.

If budget matters most, go with Andover, MA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.