Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Birmingham, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Birmingham, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,743 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,043 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,343 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 41% more than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Birmingham, AL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 184%, Birmingham, AL by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$17.71 $17.71

41.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$69.0 $69.0

44.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.16 $9.16

64.41%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.59 $5.59

13.95%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.73 $2.73

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.39 $2.39

25.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.94 $4.94

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.98 $5.98

37.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.02 $1.02

18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.96 $2.96

68.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.79 $4.79

33.40%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.10 $4.10

24.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$9.57 $9.57

119.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$10.90 $10.90

68.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.17 $16.17

48.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.42 $6.42

-8.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.33 $1.33

41.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$8.08 $8.08

-34.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.53 $5.53

17.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.18 $4.18

-11.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$5.17 $5.17

-35.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.71 $2.71

2.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.77 $2.77

-6.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.52 $9.52

46.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$14.95 $14.95

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.36 $2.36

81.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.56 $3.56

64.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.48 $1.48

97.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$81.5 $81.5

33.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.63 $1.63

5.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$29.99 $29.99

1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.83 $0.83

68.67%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.6K $34.6K

4.36%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

2.87%

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

$299 $299

$285 $285

5.16%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$78.1 $78.1

-11.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$70.6 $70.6

24.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$39.30 $39.30

104.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$19.83 $19.83

76.15%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.83 $15.83

11.81%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,357 $1,357

122.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$18.2K $18.2K

70.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$59.0 $59.0

31.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$39.44 $39.44

39.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$109 $109

17.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$136 $136

17.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,709 $1,709

45.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,212 $1,212

59.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,991 $2,991

58.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,156 $2,156

68.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$3,035 $3,035

149.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,894 $1,894

169.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,121 $3,121

99.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.18

4.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Birmingham, AL: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,709 in Birmingham, AL. 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 99% 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 $100 in Seattle, WA versus $69.0 in Birmingham, AL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $423 – making Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA, $2,743 in Birmingham, AL – roughly 41% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,115 in Birmingham, AL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Birmingham, AL, 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 $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,743 in Birmingham, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% less in Birmingham, AL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,743 in Birmingham, AL. 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 $2,743 in Birmingham, AL to $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Birmingham, AL. 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.