Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bellevue, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bellevue, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,577 in Bellevue, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $5,417 in Bellevue, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $7,257 in Bellevue, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 1% more expensive than Bellevue, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Bellevue, WA 167% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$22.68 $22.68

9.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$119 $119

-1.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$13.30 $13.30

3.53%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.61 $5.61

1.78%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.89 $2.89

5.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.38 $2.38

5.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.85 $7.85

-0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.86 $7.86

0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.09 $1.09

23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.36 $4.36

16.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.78 $2.78

93.88%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.47 $6.47

5.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$15.05 $15.05

66.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.67 $15.67

1.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.17 $15.17

35.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.54 $5.54

10.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.21 $2.21

27.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.87 $4.87

13.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.71 $3.71

81.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.38 $2.38

32.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.86 $3.86

-1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.56 $2.56

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.65 $2.65

-0.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$13.22 $13.22

-11.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.27 $15.27

2.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.09 $2.09

40.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.25 $4.25

-0.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.68 $2.68

5.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$105 $105

-4.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.67 $2.67

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.66 $1.66

3.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$30.15 $30.15

0.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.15 $1.15

3.48%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$33.6K $33.6K

-2.62%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.75%

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

$263 $263

$182 $182

44.42%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.8 $52.8

15.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$73.1 $73.1

3.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$78.4 $78.4

1.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$39.93 $39.93

-0.10%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$18.05 $18.05

-9.86%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,119 $2,119

7.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

-2.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$61.1 $61.1

12.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.87 $36.87

40.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$99.0 $99.0

16.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,907 $2,907

-19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$2,078 $2,078

-10.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$4,484 $4,484

3.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$3,649 $3,649

-4.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$4,748 $4,748

63.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$4,713 $4,713

11.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$8,697 $8,697

-23.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.61

-2.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bellevue, WA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,907 in Bellevue, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $119 in Bellevue, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $547 vs $446, with Bellevue, WA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bellevue, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bellevue, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Bellevue, WA earns 31% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,907 in Bellevue, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bellevue, WA – a meal for two runs $119 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,577 in Bellevue, WA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Bellevue, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Bellevue, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Bellevue, WA 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 Bellevue, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.