Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bel Air, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bel Air, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,653 in Bel Air, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,860 in Bel Air, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,494 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,066 in Bel Air, MD, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Bel Air, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Bel Air, MD sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Bel Air, MD by 99%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$16.32 $16.32

51.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$68.4 $68.4

78.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.01 $10.01

40.06%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.29 $5.29

5.10%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.73 $1.73

76.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.72 $1.72

38.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.63 $6.63

19.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.55 $6.55

23.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.01 $1.01

36.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.53 $3.53

40.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.39 $4.39

21.87%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.30 $4.30

53.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.08 $12.08

105.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.31 $11.31

40.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.72 $15.72

28.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.05 $5.05

22.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.62 $1.62

70.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.31 $4.31

24.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.61 $4.61

41.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.85 $2.85

12.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.78 $2.78

34.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.04 $2.04

39.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.18 $2.18

20.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.32 $9.32

25.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$15.29 $15.29

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.85 $1.85

52.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.33 $3.33

27.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.98 $1.98

39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$101 $101

-3.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.42 $3.42

-23.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.02 $29.02

2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.6K $29.6K

11.83%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.85%

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

$270 $270

$190 $190

41.61%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$53.6 $53.6

11.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$68.1 $68.1

9.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$42.93 $42.93

81.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.32 $13.32

18.47%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,314 $1,314

73.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

26.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$51.0 $51.0

36.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$39.70 $39.70

31.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.0 $86.0

36.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

27.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,632 $1,632

42.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,350 $1,350

40.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,583 $2,583

84.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,206 $2,206

57.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,752 $2,752

180.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,603 $2,603

91.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$5,050 $5,050

31.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Bel Air, MD: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,632 in Bel Air, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Seattle, WA versus $68.0 in Bel Air, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $541 vs $390 – making Bel Air, MD 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 Bel Air, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA, $2,653 in Bel Air, MD – roughly 36% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,407 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,979 in Bel Air, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bel Air, MD, 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 $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,653 in Bel Air, MD. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Bel Air, MD. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,653 in Bel Air, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,653 in Bel Air, MD to $3,604 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Bel Air, MD. 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.