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: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,562 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,706 in Arlington, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 50% more expensive than Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Arlington, WA 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$16.38 $16.38

51.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$73.2 $73.2

61.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$12.39 $12.39

11.22%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.26 $5.26

6.65%

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

$2.89 $2.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.01 $2.01

22.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.93 $4.93

61.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$11.81 $11.81

-30.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.05 $1.05

32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.13 $4.13

17.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.95 $4.95

4.24%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.97 $4.97

33.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$9.72 $9.72

157.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$8.18 $8.18

92.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$15.48 $15.48

31.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$2.69 $2.69

131.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.68 $1.68

63.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.88 $4.88

9.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.86 $4.86

33.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.26 $3.26

-5.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.80 $2.80

37.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.90 $1.90

44.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.90 $2.90

-12.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$11.09 $11.09

2.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$18.62 $18.62

-16.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.69 $1.69

68.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$6.30 $6.30

-32.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.97 $1.97

36.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.54 $2.54

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.78 $0.78

120.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.58 $29.58

1.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.07 $1.07

7.48%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$36.9K $36.9K

-9.88%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.41%

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

$263 $263

$214 $214

22.99%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$50.5 $50.5

19.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$44.73 $44.73

66.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$33.39 $33.39

141.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.86 $14.86

7.07%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,086 $2,086

9.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$31.2K $31.2K

-4.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$38.08 $38.08

83.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.56 $39.56

36.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$72.3 $72.3

64.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$100 $100

42.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,308 $1,308

76.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,193 $1,193

53.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,521 $2,521

86.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,973 $1,973

76.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$5,757 $5,757

14.02%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,308 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 14% 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 $73.0 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $391 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 50% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,419 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 14% 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,308 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,419 in Arlington, WA versus $3,634 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 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.