Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Arlington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Arlington, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,690 in Arlington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,870 in Arlington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,050 in Arlington, KY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 34% more expensive than Arlington, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Arlington, KY 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.11 $18.11

36.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$81.3 $81.3

44.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.02 $10.02

37.43%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.84 $5.84

-2.23%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.94 $2.94

3.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.37 $2.37

5.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.59 $6.59

18.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.77 $7.77

1.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.72 $0.72

87.50%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.16 $4.16

21.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.62 $4.62

16.67%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.81 $3.81

79.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.03 $12.03

108.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.48 $15.48

2.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.02 $16.02

28.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.53 $4.53

35.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.40 $1.40

101.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.81 $4.81

14.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.38 $5.38

25.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.02 $2.02

55.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.17 $2.17

76.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.13 $2.13

26.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.46 $1.46

80.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.10 $9.10

28.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.18 $15.18

3.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.10 $2.10

39.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.53 $4.53

-6.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.06 $2.06

36.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.08 $5.08

-48.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.57 $1.57

9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$20.75 $20.75

45.64%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

-0.22%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.32%

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

$263 $263

$198 $198

32.45%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$71.6 $71.6

-15.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$71.9 $71.9

5.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.36 $42.36

87.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.11 $15.11

7.68%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,265 $1,265

80.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.8K $29.8K

-1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$60.8 $60.8

12.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$49.13 $49.13

5.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$93.6 $93.6

23.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$133 $133

7.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,599 $1,599

46.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,355 $1,355

37.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,599 $2,599

78.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,202 $2,202

57.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,374 $2,374

227.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,611 $2,611

100.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,938 $5,938

11.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Arlington, KY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,599 in Arlington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 11% 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 $81.0 in Arlington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $408 per month, with Arlington, KY 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 Arlington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Arlington, KY differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,690 including rent). Arlington, KY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 11% 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 $1,599 in Arlington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% 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 $2,690 in Arlington, KY – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Arlington, KY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Arlington, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.