Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Billings, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Billings, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,245 in Billings, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,433 in Billings, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,620 in Billings, MT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 61% more than Billings, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Billings, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Billings, MT by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$19.79 $19.79

26.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$60.6 $60.6

95.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$14.77 $14.77

-6.84%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.87 $5.87

-0.34%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.13 $2.13

43.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.75 $2.75

-13.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$4.47 $4.47

77.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.90 $4.90

60.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.25 $1.25

11.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.23 $4.23

14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.20 $4.20

23.33%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.02 $3.02

121.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$14.15 $14.15

78.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.43 $12.43

28.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$16.16 $16.16

24.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.42 $4.42

40.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.41 $1.41

104.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.94 $3.94

39.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$6.22 $6.22

2.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.87 $1.87

65.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.24 $3.24

17.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.39 $2.39

17.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.33 $1.33

96.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$9.38 $9.38

21.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$13.15 $13.15

18.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.28 $2.28

31.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.91 $3.91

8.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$27.79 $27.79

262.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.46 $2.46

8.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.60 $1.60

6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.51 $29.51

-0.03%

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

$21.6K $21.6K

54.31%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

5.18%

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

$261 $261

$158 $158

65.16%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$49.12 $49.12

22.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$68.4 $68.4

10.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$48.30 $48.30

63.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.83 $13.83

14.39%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,010 $1,010

118.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.6K $32.6K

-8.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$56.7 $56.7

23.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$67.8 $67.8

-23.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$103 $103

13.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$122 $122

14.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,147 $1,147

102.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$920 $920

103.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,087 $2,087

126.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$1,813 $1,813

96.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,343 $2,343

226.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,121 $2,121

137.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$3,890 $3,890

67.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.59

-2.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Billings, MT: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,147 in Billings, MT. 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 67% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $61.0 in Billings, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $397 – making Billings, MT 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 Billings, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 61% more than Billings, MT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,367 in Billings, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 263% less in Billings, MT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,010 in Billings, MT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Billings, MT, where all-in costs run around $2,245, than in Seattle, WA at $3,621. In Billings, MT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Billings, MT costs $2,245 versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Billings, MT. 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.