Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bloomington, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bloomington, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,346 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,510 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,189 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,481 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,032 in Bloomington, IN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 51% more than Bloomington, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Bloomington, IN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 163%, Bloomington, IN by 74%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$15.14 $15.14

66.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$59.4 $59.4

101.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$7.81 $7.81

76.57%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.29 $4.29

30.77%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.15 $2.15

39.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.35 $1.35

85.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.91 $4.91

59.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$5.34 $5.34

48.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.76 $0.76

78.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.26 $2.26

115.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.93 $3.93

35.11%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.31 $3.31

99.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$10.49 $10.49

133.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$9.53 $9.53

68.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$15.34 $15.34

34.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$4.30 $4.30

41.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.31 $1.31

119.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.24 $2.24

148.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.08 $4.08

65.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.03 $2.03

57.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.05 $3.05

24.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.74 $1.74

56.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.40 $1.40

87.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$8.30 $8.30

41.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$11.33 $11.33

39.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.88 $1.88

51.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.81 $1.81

141.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.98 $0.98

174.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$30.18 $30.18

227.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.78 $3.78

-30.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.04 $1.04

58.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$17.74 $17.74

68.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.90%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.95%

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

$264 $264

$121 $121

118.36%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$56.5 $56.5

7.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$57.2 $57.2

33.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$39.41 $39.41

97.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

$10.15 $10.15

294.19%

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$11.84 $11.84

36.74%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,535 $1,535

46.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$17.1K $17.1K

73.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$40.50 $40.50

74.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$40.72 $40.72

27.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$90.3 $90.3

31.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$103 $103

38.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,581 $1,581

50.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,321 $1,321

42.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,229 $2,229

113.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$1,740 $1,740

105.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$2,180 $2,180

260.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$2,134 $2,134

144.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$3,636 $3,636

77.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Bloomington, IN: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,581 in Bloomington, IN. 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 77% 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 $120 in Seattle, WA versus $59 in Bloomington, IN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $315 – making Bloomington, IN 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 Bloomington, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,309 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,519 in Bloomington, IN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 228% less in Bloomington, IN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,253 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,535 in Bloomington, IN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bloomington, IN, where all-in costs run around $2,346, than in Seattle, WA at $3,539. In Bloomington, IN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bloomington, IN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bloomington, IN. 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.