Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Apple Valley, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Apple Valley, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,396 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,505 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,613 in Apple Valley, MN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 50% more than Apple Valley, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Apple Valley, MN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Apple Valley, MN by 79%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$10.62 $10.62

133.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$76.1 $76.1

54.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.13 $10.13

35.93%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.16 $6.16

-7.31%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.09 $3.09

-1.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.27 $1.27

96.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.96 $5.96

31.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.17 $6.17

27.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.74 $0.74

82.43%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.16 $2.16

134.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.12 $2.12

154.25%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.17 $4.17

64.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.13 $11.13

125.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$14.45 $14.45

9.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$13.13 $13.13

56.82%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.45 $4.45

37.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.77 $1.77

59.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$7.81 $7.81

-29.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.52 $5.52

22.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.04 $3.04

3.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.68 $3.68

3.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.47 $2.47

8.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.40 $2.40

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.62 $11.62

0.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.79 $15.79

-0.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.27 $2.27

29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.94 $4.94

-14.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.05 $2.05

37.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.63 $4.63

-43.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$24.09 $24.09

25.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.85 $0.85

40.00%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.6K $30.6K

7.03%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.68%

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

$263 $263

$164 $164

60.47%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$50.0 $50.0

21.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$60.3 $60.3

25.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$75.7 $75.7

5.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.96 $14.96

8.76%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,172 $1,172

94.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$26.6K $26.6K

10.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$42.93 $42.93

59.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$42.95 $42.95

20.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$57.0 $57.0

103.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$118 $118

21.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,630 $1,630

43.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,183 $1,183

57.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,654 $2,654

74.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,002 $2,002

73.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,498 $2,498

210.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,312 $2,312

126.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Apple Valley, MN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,630 in Apple Valley, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $76.0 in Apple Valley, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $399 – making Apple Valley, MN 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 Apple Valley, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $2,396 in Apple Valley, MN – roughly 50% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,595 in Apple Valley, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,396 in Apple Valley, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,172 in Apple Valley, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,396 in Apple Valley, MN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,396 in Apple Valley, MN to $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Apple Valley, MN. 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.