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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,013 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $2,887 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $3,760 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 77% more expensive than in Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Ankeny, IA 51% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$14.70 $14.70

68.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$57.2 $57.2

107.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.22 $12.22

15.79%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.97 $5.97

-4.36%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.69 $2.69

8.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.52 $1.52

65.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.05 $5.05

56.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.92 $6.92

16.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.96 $0.96

41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.44 $2.44

107.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.14 $2.14

145.33%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.72 $3.72

85.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$10.69 $10.69

133.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.91 $10.91

44.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.63 $14.63

41.63%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.38 $4.38

41.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.93 $1.93

44.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.59 $4.59

20.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.53 $4.53

41.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.43 $3.43

-7.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.38 $3.38

15.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.02 $1.02

164.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.72 $0.72

251.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.09 $9.09

25.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.23 $15.23

2.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.77 $1.77

62.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.37 $3.37

26.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.99 $1.99

29.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.22 $2.22

-26.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$20.36 $20.36

45.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

28.64%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.8K $24.8K

6.69%

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

$264 $264

$147 $147

79.97%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$49.76 $49.76

23.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$64.3 $64.3

17.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.48 $42.48

83.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.24 $15.24

5.71%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,117 $1,117

98.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$11.9K $11.9K

143.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$49.57 $49.57

39.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$35.52 $35.52

51.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$84.1 $84.1

41.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$94.4 $94.4

50.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$932 $932

152.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$917 $917

100.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$1,889 $1,889

148.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,377 $1,377

159.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,265 $5,265

22.95%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ankeny, IA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $932 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 23% 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 $57.0 in Ankeny, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $338 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 77% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $2,013 including rent). Ankeny, IA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 23% 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 $932 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 $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,013 in Ankeny, IA – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,013 in Ankeny, IA versus $3,565 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 77% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.