Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Athens, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Athens, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $1,678 in Athens, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,494 in Athens, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,310 in Athens, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 129% more expensive than in Athens, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Athens, OH 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$15.02 $15.02

64.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$50.0 $50.0

98.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.15 $10.15

48.67%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.02 $5.02

31.87%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.33 $2.33

34.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.41 $1.41

111.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.97 $4.97

63.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.86 $6.86

14.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.69 $0.69

69.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.16 $2.16

140.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.92 $2.92

119.18%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.19 $4.19

17.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.97 $12.97

65.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$8.67 $8.67

114.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$16.22 $16.22

42.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.65 $3.65

58.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.97 $0.97

93.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.73 $2.73

97.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$2.99 $2.99

110.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.63 $1.63

133.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.20 $2.20

48.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.69 $1.69

69.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.93 $1.93

40.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.16 $9.16

54.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.84 $14.84

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.09 $2.09

108.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.02 $3.02

90.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$0.99 $0.99

209.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.82 $3.82

-32.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.25 $1.25

32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$25.21 $25.21

18.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.87 $0.87

58.62%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.5K $36.5K

-0.17%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

-2.94%

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

$296 $296

$150 $150

97.78%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$29.94 $29.94

138.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$48.78 $48.78

80.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.09 $12.09

51.61%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,442 $1,442

112.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$19.3K $19.3K

57.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$45.48 $45.48

69.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$44.84 $44.84

20.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$66.2 $66.2

92.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$110 $110

50.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,303 $1,303

85.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$699 $699

176.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,468 $1,468

223.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,252 $1,252

186.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,649 $1,649

349.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,653 $1,653

205.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,464 $3,464

82.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.21

3.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Athens, OH: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,303 in Athens, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 82% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $50.0 in Athens, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $323 per month, with Athens, OH 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 Athens, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 129% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 82% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,303 in Athens, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,678 in Athens, OH – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,678 in Athens, OH versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Athens, OH but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Athens, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Athens, OH is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Athens, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.