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: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,580 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,977 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,373 in Arlington, WA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Arlington, WA 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$25.23 $25.23

0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

-0.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.06 $12.06

22.72%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.40 $5.40

22.78%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.92 $2.92

5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.97 $1.97

50.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.97 $4.97

59.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.85 $5.85

34.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.05 $1.05

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.58 $3.58

43.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.43 $4.43

39.05%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$6.08 $6.08

-16.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$9.71 $9.71

119.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$8.19 $8.19

124.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$15.66 $15.66

47.13%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$2.68 $2.68

125.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.11 $3.11

-39.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.58 $5.58

-6.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$6.48 $6.48

-1.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.24 $4.24

-10.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.48 $3.48

-5.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.55 $2.55

12.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.99 $2.99

-11.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$13.22 $13.22

5.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$18.09 $18.09

-16.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.70 $1.70

145.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.70 $5.70

-1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$10.14 $10.14

-74.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.15 $1.15

26.96%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.12%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

7.54%

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

$306 $306

$216 $216

41.95%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$49.76 $49.76

41.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$44.81 $44.81

94.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$33.17 $33.17

140.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$16.72 $16.72

6.76%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,123 $1,123

168.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$37.75 $37.75

103.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$28.65 $28.65

87.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$44.99 $44.99

179.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$78.9 $78.9

105.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,556 $1,556

57.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,277 $1,277

55.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,785 $2,785

75.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,501 $2,501

44.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$5,674 $5,674

8.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.85

32.99%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,556 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 9% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in Arlington, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $551 vs $414, with Arlington, WA cheaper for home cooking.

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 ($3,886 vs $2,580 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,556 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,580 in Arlington, WA – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Arlington, WA 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, 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.