Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Boise, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Boise, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,623 in Boise, ID, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,640 in Boise, ID, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,656 in Boise, ID, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Boise, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Boise, ID sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Boise, ID by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$19.97 $19.97

24.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$64.9 $64.9

83.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.97 $10.97

28.99%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.46 $6.46

-11.61%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.58 $2.58

13.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.28 $2.28

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.15 $7.15

10.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.98 $6.98

15.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.93 $0.93

46.24%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.53 $3.53

43.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$5.30 $5.30

-0.94%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.86 $3.86

79.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$13.07 $13.07

90.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$8.80 $8.80

78.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$13.08 $13.08

58.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.98 $4.98

24.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.62 $1.62

72.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.78 $3.78

46.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.94 $4.94

29.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.37 $2.37

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.18 $2.18

78.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.91 $1.91

41.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.16 $2.16

17.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$8.37 $8.37

35.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.66 $15.66

0.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.57 $2.57

65.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.48 $1.48

83.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$42.27 $42.27

133.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.54 $2.54

1.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.52 $1.52

7.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$24.30 $24.30

22.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.01 $1.01

12.87%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$33.6K $33.6K

-2.21%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.52%

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

$264 $264

$135 $135

95.38%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$49.42 $49.42

24.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$73.0 $73.0

3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$39.19 $39.19

99.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$37.08 $37.08

8.63%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$12.56 $12.56

28.26%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,238 $1,238

78.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

22.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$58.6 $58.6

18.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.46 $33.46

60.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$89.4 $89.4

33.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$100 $100

41.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,592 $1,592

48.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,375 $1,375

33.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,486 $2,486

88.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,984 $1,984

79.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$7,438 $7,438

1.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,021 $3,021

67.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,324 $4,324

49.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Boise, ID: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,592 in Boise, ID. 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 50% 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 $65.0 in Boise, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $368 – making Boise, ID 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 Boise, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Boise, ID, 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 $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,934 in Boise, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,212 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,238 in Boise, ID. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,623 in Boise, ID. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boise, ID costs $2,623 versus $3,565 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 Boise, ID. 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.