Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Baraboo, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Baraboo, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,166 in Baraboo, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $3,952 in Baraboo, WI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 54% more expensive than Baraboo, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Baraboo, WI 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.09 $15.09

67.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$40.38 $40.38

200.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.46 $11.46

23.12%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.99 $4.99

16.63%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$1.53 $1.53

94.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.47 $1.47

63.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.10 $5.10

51.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$3.48 $3.48

126.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.82 $0.82

63.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.11 $3.11

57.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.26 $3.26

57.67%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$2.95 $2.95

122.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$7.57 $7.57

225.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.44 $11.44

38.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$11.19 $11.19

79.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.01 $4.01

56.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.26 $1.26

126.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.96 $2.96

78.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.47 $3.47

84.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.22 $1.22

163.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.49 $2.49

53.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.61 $1.61

70.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.17 $2.17

18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.22 $11.22

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$8.46 $8.46

86.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.74 $1.74

65.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.29 $3.29

33.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.99 $1.99

38.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.44 $3.44

-22.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.56 $1.56

8.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.67 $29.67

0.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.00 $1.00

14.00%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$24.5K $24.5K

34.14%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.36%

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

$268 $268

$174 $174

54.29%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.0 $52.0

17.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$51.0 $51.0

49.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$29.40 $29.40

165.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$10.80 $10.80

46.48%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,324 $1,324

70.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

28.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$45.84 $45.84

54.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$39.28 $39.28

35.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$67.7 $67.7

73.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$110 $110

26.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,296 $1,296

78.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,292 $1,292

43.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,784 $1,784

165.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,779 $1,779

99.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,174 $2,174

257.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,177 $2,177

145.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Baraboo, WI: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $40 in Baraboo, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $308 per month, with Baraboo, WI 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 Baraboo, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baraboo, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baraboo, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,568 in Baraboo, WI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,379 in Baraboo, WI versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Baraboo, WI but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Baraboo, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baraboo, WI delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,379 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baraboo, WI hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Baraboo, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Baraboo, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.