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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,370 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,537 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,705 in Arlington, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 51% more expensive than Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Arlington, WA 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$16.34 $16.34

52.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$72.4 $72.4

65.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.42 $12.42

11.92%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.22 $5.22

6.51%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.94 $2.94

4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.05 $2.05

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.11 $5.11

55.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$11.97 $11.97

-33.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.07 $1.07

25.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.10 $4.10

23.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.83 $4.83

10.97%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.93 $4.93

33.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$9.68 $9.68

161.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$7.89 $7.89

105.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.23 $15.23

33.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$2.84 $2.84

110.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.69 $1.69

62.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.09 $5.09

5.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.88 $4.88

35.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.38 $3.38

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.89 $2.89

31.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.01 $2.01

35.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.98 $2.98

-15.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$11.09 $11.09

1.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$14.91 $14.91

9.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.70 $1.70

67.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$6.37 $6.37

-34.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.62 $2.62

3.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.74 $0.74

133.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$29.88 $29.88

-1.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.06 $1.06

13.21%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$36.7K $36.7K

-8.47%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.0K $24.0K

8.42%

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

$266 $266

$214 $214

24.40%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$49.86 $49.86

21.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$44.68 $44.68

70.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$33.63 $33.63

135.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$14.77 $14.77

9.82%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$2,078 $2,078

9.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$31.1K $31.1K

-4.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$38.28 $38.28

81.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$39.43 $39.43

33.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$72.9 $72.9

64.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$102 $102

40.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,291 $1,291

84.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,218 $1,218

53.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,456 $2,456

92.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,030 $2,030

72.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$5,762 $5,762

12.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

4.85

32.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,291 in Arlington, WA. 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $72.0 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $385 per month, with Arlington, WA 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, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Arlington, WA differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($3,583 vs $2,370 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 13% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,291 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,370 in Arlington, WA – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,370 in Arlington, WA versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arlington, WA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Arlington, WA 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.

Expats usually find Arlington, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.