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: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,171 in Augusta, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,211 in Augusta, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,250 in Augusta, ME.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 65% more expensive than Augusta, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Augusta, ME 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$20.02 $20.02

24.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$74.4 $74.4

60.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$7.55 $7.55

84.11%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.05 $5.05

10.10%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.29 $2.29

33.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.85 $1.85

33.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.86 $4.86

63.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$5.97 $5.97

34.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.13 $1.13

18.58%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.47 $3.47

45.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$1.74 $1.74

208.05%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.70 $3.70

78.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$16.59 $16.59

52.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$12.21 $12.21

32.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$18.65 $18.65

8.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.43 $4.43

34.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.29 $1.29

112.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.10 $3.10

72.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$6.69 $6.69

-1.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.16 $2.16

50.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.25 $3.25

16.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.87 $2.87

-4.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.47 $1.47

72.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.85 $8.85

27.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$14.83 $14.83

9.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.87 $2.87

-0.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$1.97 $1.97

111.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.62 $2.62

3.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.27 $1.27

36.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$27.86 $27.86

5.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.85 $0.85

41.18%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

13.04%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.51%

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

$266 $266

$195 $195

36.41%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$57.0 $57.0

6.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$75.2 $75.2

1.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$30.58 $30.58

158.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.15 $13.15

23.35%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$2,814 $2,814

-18.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$27.7K $27.7K

6.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$67.2 $67.2

3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$44.27 $44.27

18.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$86.1 $86.1

38.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$148 $148

-3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,064 $1,064

123.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$941 $941

98.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$1,589 $1,589

197.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$1,450 $1,450

142.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,334 $2,334

230.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,408 $2,408

123.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$1,970 $1,970

229.59%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Augusta, ME: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,064 in Augusta, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 230% 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 $74.0 in Augusta, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $400 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 65% in total monthly costs ($3,583 vs $2,171 including rent). Augusta, ME is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 230% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,064 in Augusta, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,280 in Seattle, WA versus $2,814 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 $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,171 in Augusta, ME versus $3,583 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 65% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.