Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ankeny, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ankeny, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $1,993 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,892 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,790 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 80% more expensive than Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Ankeny, IA 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$15.25 $15.25

62.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$57.7 $57.7

104.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.81 $11.81

16.60%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.17 $6.17

-7.46%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.57 $2.57

18.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.57 $1.57

59.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.09 $5.09

53.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.11 $7.11

10.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.91 $0.91

48.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.44 $2.44

107.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.25 $2.25

139.56%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.63 $3.63

88.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.90 $10.90

130.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.94 $10.94

44.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.32 $14.32

43.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.52 $4.52

35.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.86 $4.86

13.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.53 $4.53

48.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.59 $3.59

-12.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.33 $3.33

14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.04 $1.04

158.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$0.67 $0.67

294.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.01 $9.01

29.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.30 $15.30

2.55%

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

$3.41 $3.41

24.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.97 $1.97

43.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.99 $1.99

30.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.16 $2.16

-20.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$20.24 $20.24

49.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.83 $0.83

43.37%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

24.70%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

8.37%

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

$263 $263

$146 $146

79.38%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$49.88 $49.88

22.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$62.9 $62.9

20.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.89 $42.89

85.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.13 $15.13

7.53%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,088 $1,088

109.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$11.7K $11.7K

151.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$49.04 $49.04

39.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.51 $34.51

50.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$84.5 $84.5

37.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$94.0 $94.0

52.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$924 $924

152.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$916 $916

103.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,850 $1,850

150.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,353 $1,353

156.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,274 $5,274

25.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ankeny, IA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $924 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 25% 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 $58.0 in Ankeny, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $340 per month, with Ankeny, IA 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 Ankeny, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Ankeny, IA differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $1,993 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 25% 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 $924 in Ankeny, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,993 in Ankeny, IA – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,993 in Ankeny, IA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ankeny, IA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Ankeny, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Ankeny, IA 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 Ankeny, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.