Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Annapolis, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Annapolis, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $3,405 in Annapolis, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,807 in Annapolis, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $6,210 in Annapolis, MD.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 13% more expensive than in Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Annapolis, MD 148% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$29.50 $29.50

-16.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$80.4 $80.4

23.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.16 $10.16

48.52%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.63 $5.63

17.58%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.55 $2.55

22.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.01 $2.01

48.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.08 $7.08

14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.57 $8.57

-8.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.13 $1.13

3.54%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.44 $3.44

51.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.43 $5.43

17.86%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$6.51 $6.51

-24.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$10.42 $10.42

105.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$10.58 $10.58

75.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.20 $15.20

51.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.91 $5.91

-2.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.15 $2.15

-12.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$7.17 $7.17

-24.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$7.54 $7.54

-16.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$7.53 $7.53

-49.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.48 $4.48

-27.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.29 $3.29

-12.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.10 $2.10

29.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.20 $9.20

53.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.05 $15.05

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.77 $1.77

146.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.67 $3.67

56.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$4.02 $4.02

-23.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$142 $142

-22.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.28 $3.28

-21.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.57 $1.57

5.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$29.83 $29.83

0.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.94 $0.94

46.81%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$32.8K $32.8K

10.96%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.0K $25.0K

0.27%

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

$296 $296

$202 $202

46.49%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$52.6 $52.6

35.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$93.4 $93.4

-5.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$67.5 $67.5

20.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.25 $13.25

38.34%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,684 $1,684

82.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$19.7K $19.7K

54.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$46.58 $46.58

65.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$20.02 $20.02

169.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$92.8 $92.8

37.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$124 $124

33.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$2,107 $2,107

14.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,816 $1,816

6.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,778 $3,778

25.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,764 $2,764

29.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$5,576 $5,576

13.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.05

6.12%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Annapolis, MD: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $2,107 in Annapolis, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 13% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $80.0 in Annapolis, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $448 per month, with Annapolis, MD 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 Annapolis, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Annapolis, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Annapolis, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 13% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $2,107 in Annapolis, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,405 in Annapolis, MD – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Annapolis, MD runs roughly 29% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Annapolis, MD is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Annapolis, MD delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,405 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Annapolis, MD hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Annapolis, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.