Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Aurora, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Aurora, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $3,049 in Aurora, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $4,368 in Aurora, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,688 in Aurora, CO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 19% more expensive than in Aurora, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Aurora, CO 129% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.03 $20.03

24.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$59.0 $59.0

100.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$12.87 $12.87

6.92%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.26 $4.26

37.32%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.45 $2.45

24.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.97 $1.97

21.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$3.89 $3.89

103.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.09 $6.09

28.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.88 $0.88

57.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.08 $3.08

57.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.90 $2.90

78.62%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$2.72 $2.72

145.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$9.02 $9.02

180.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$9.68 $9.68

64.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$17.36 $17.36

16.13%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.17 $3.17

95.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.50 $1.50

92.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.17 $3.17

72.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.35 $4.35

46.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.45 $5.45

-43.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.04 $4.04

-5.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.11 $2.11

32.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.74 $3.74

-30.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$9.18 $9.18

24.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.75 $1.75

70.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.29 $3.29

28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.93 $2.93

-8.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$174 $174

-41.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.59 $3.59

-25.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.63 $1.63

4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$28.97 $28.97

1.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

11.06%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.76%

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

$261 $261

$176 $176

48.22%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$60.9 $60.9

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$52.9 $52.9

43.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$12.22 $12.22

544.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.11 $13.11

20.67%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,280 $1,280

72.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

24.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$43.44 $43.44

60.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$50.6 $50.6

2.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$112 $112

4.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$113 $113

23.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,906 $1,906

21.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,739 $1,739

7.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$3,098 $3,098

52.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,723 $2,723

31.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$3,128 $3,128

144.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$3,225 $3,225

56.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,078 $4,078

59.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Aurora, CO: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,906 in Aurora, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 60% 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 Aurora, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $342 per month, with Aurora, CO 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 Aurora, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aurora, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aurora, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 60% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,906 in Aurora, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Aurora, CO – 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.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Aurora, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Aurora, CO delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,049 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aurora, CO hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Aurora, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.