Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Austin, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Austin, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,374 in Austin, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,501 in Austin, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,627 in Austin, MN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 64% more than Austin, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Austin, MN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Austin, MN by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$12.73 $12.73

99.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.3 $75.3

34.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.16 $10.16

45.67%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.26 $4.26

55.63%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.03 $3.03

1.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.92 $1.92

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.95 $3.95

101.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.46 $6.46

21.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.87 $0.87

40.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.95 $2.95

74.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$1.91 $1.91

222.51%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.52 $2.52

101.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$12.66 $12.66

68.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$6.51 $6.51

182.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$17.08 $17.08

34.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.23 $4.23

42.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.18 $1.18

59.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.60 $3.60

44.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$1.69 $1.69

276.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.19 $2.19

72.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.88 $2.88

14.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.46 $1.46

96.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.82 $1.82

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.66 $9.66

44.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$3.02 $3.02

398.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.78 $1.78

134.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.94 $2.94

91.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.79 $1.79

65.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.78 $3.78

-32.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.66 $1.66

-0.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$35.02 $35.02

-15.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.89 $0.89

64.04%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.5K $35.5K

1.60%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

4.10%

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

$306 $306

$253 $253

21.05%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$44.99 $44.99

55.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$55.4 $55.4

57.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$40.66 $40.66

96.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$12.36 $12.36

44.42%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,003 $1,003

200.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$7,939 $7,939

292.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$33.44 $33.44

129.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$28.14 $28.14

91.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$122 $122

3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$138 $138

18.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,486 $1,486

65.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,316 $1,316

50.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,536 $2,536

92.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,107 $2,107

72.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,768 $2,768

166.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,602 $2,602

92.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.24

3.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Austin, MN: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,486 in Austin, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $75.0 in Austin, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $290 – making Austin, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Austin, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,561 in Austin, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, MN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,374 in Austin, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,018 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,003 in Austin, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Austin, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,374, than in Seattle, WA at $3,886. In Austin, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Austin, MN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Austin, MN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.