Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Auburn, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Auburn, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $1,919 in Auburn, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,895 in Auburn, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,871 in Auburn, AL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 87% more expensive than Auburn, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Auburn, AL 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$12.07 $12.07

105.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$59.4 $59.4

98.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.10 $10.10

36.34%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.93 $4.93

15.82%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.41 $2.41

26.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.94 $1.94

28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.01 $5.01

56.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.07 $6.07

29.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.97 $0.97

39.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.39 $3.39

49.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.65 $2.65

103.40%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.31 $4.31

58.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.58 $10.58

136.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$7.25 $7.25

118.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$9.27 $9.27

122.11%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.81 $5.81

5.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.27 $1.27

122.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.65 $3.65

50.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.47 $4.47

50.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.55 $3.55

-11.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.29 $2.29

66.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.70 $1.70

58.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.57 $1.57

68.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$5.02 $5.02

132.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$9.30 $9.30

68.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.71 $1.71

71.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.77 $2.77

53.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.97 $4.97

-47.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$17.85 $17.85

69.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.77 $0.77

54.55%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.5K $35.5K

-7.86%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.44%

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

$263 $263

$183 $183

43.56%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$40.46 $40.46

50.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$56.7 $56.7

33.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$64.8 $64.8

22.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$9.21 $9.21

76.66%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$988 $988

130.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$8,239 $8,239

255.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$38.18 $38.18

79.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.26 $36.26

43.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$72.7 $72.7

59.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$128 $128

12.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$916 $916

154.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$826 $826

125.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,002 $2,002

131.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,530 $1,530

127.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,161 $2,161

259.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,076 $2,076

152.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,220 $4,220

56.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Auburn, AL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $916 in Auburn, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 57% 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 $59.0 in Auburn, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $314 per month, with Auburn, AL 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 Auburn, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Auburn, AL differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $1,919 including rent). Auburn, AL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 57% 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 $916 in Auburn, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $988 in Auburn, AL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Auburn, AL – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,919 in Auburn, AL versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Auburn, AL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Auburn, AL 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 Auburn, AL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.