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 $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,490 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,867 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,245 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Birmingham, AL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Birmingham, AL by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$18.19 $18.19

36.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$58.9 $58.9

101.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.04 $10.04

40.94%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.62 $5.62

1.60%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.17 $2.17

35.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.38 $2.38

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.98 $5.98

31.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.33 $7.33

9.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.10 $1.10

23.64%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.50 $3.50

44.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.99 $3.99

31.58%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.27 $4.27

61.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$11.23 $11.23

122.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$11.24 $11.24

40.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.62 $14.62

41.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.13 $6.13

0.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.92 $1.92

45.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.38 $7.38

-25.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.13 $5.13

25.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.10 $4.10

-22.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.98 $4.98

-21.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.54 $2.54

6.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.74 $2.74

-7.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$6.93 $6.93

64.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.74 $14.74

6.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.25 $2.25

27.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.52 $3.52

21.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.46 $1.46

85.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$54.6 $54.6

81.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.97 $3.97

-35.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.57 $1.57

3.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$30.60 $30.60

-3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$31.0K $31.0K

5.97%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.01%

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

$264 $264

$211 $211

25.06%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$49.11 $49.11

25.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$53.3 $53.3

41.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$46.98 $46.98

66.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$20.32 $20.32

98.23%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$13.52 $13.52

19.16%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,214 $1,214

82.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$18.1K $18.1K

59.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$63.5 $63.5

9.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$27.62 $27.62

94.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$106 $106

12.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$99.0 $99.0

43.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,524 $1,524

54.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,137 $1,137

61.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,622 $2,622

78.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,316 $2,316

54.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$2,934 $2,934

156.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,871 $1,871

169.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,162 $3,162

104.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Birmingham, AL: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,524 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 105% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $59.0 in Birmingham, AL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA, $2,490 in Birmingham, AL – roughly 43% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,735 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 $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,490 in Birmingham, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 81% less in Birmingham, AL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Birmingham, AL, where all-in costs run around $2,490, than in Seattle, WA at $3,565. In Birmingham, AL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,490 in Birmingham, AL to $3,565 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.