Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Augusta, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Augusta, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $2,203 in Augusta, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,222 in Augusta, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $4,241 in Augusta, ME.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 60% more expensive than Augusta, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Augusta, ME 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$19.62 $19.62

29.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$74.3 $74.3

63.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$7.35 $7.35

87.89%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.09 $5.09

15.13%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.35 $2.35

27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.94 $1.94

24.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$5.04 $5.04

56.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.02 $6.02

36.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.09 $1.09

28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.43 $3.43

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$1.84 $1.84

181.52%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.73 $3.73

83.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$16.87 $16.87

47.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$11.94 $11.94

31.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$18.66 $18.66

7.82%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.44 $4.44

35.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.32 $1.32

115.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.10 $3.10

73.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$6.76 $6.76

-1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.17 $2.17

44.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.27 $3.27

12.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.78 $2.78

0.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.51 $1.51

75.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.11 $9.11

24.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$14.82 $14.82

4.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.97 $2.97

-3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$1.97 $1.97

113.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.98 $1.98

40.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.67 $2.67

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.26 $1.26

32.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$27.98 $27.98

6.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

9.41%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.37%

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

$263 $263

$197 $197

33.16%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$57.7 $57.7

5.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$75.4 $75.4

-1.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$30.22 $30.22

163.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$12.87 $12.87

22.84%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$2,833 $2,833

-19.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$28.0K $28.0K

5.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$67.3 $67.3

1.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$45.40 $45.40

14.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.2 $86.2

35.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$148 $148

-5.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,066 $1,066

123.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$936 $936

100.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,595 $1,595

198.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$1,472 $1,472

142.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$2,370 $2,370

238.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$2,412 $2,412

115.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$1,995 $1,995

231.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.43

-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Augusta, ME: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $1,066 in Augusta, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 232% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Augusta, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $540 vs $401 per month, with Augusta, ME 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 Augusta, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Augusta, ME differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($3,533 vs $2,203 including rent). Augusta, ME is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 232% 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: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,066 in Augusta, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,289 in Seattle, WA versus $2,833 in Augusta, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Augusta, ME – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,203 in Augusta, ME versus $3,533 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Augusta, ME but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Augusta, ME 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 Augusta, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.