Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Boston, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Boston, MA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 3.7% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 13.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 3.4% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 1.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$24.58 $24.58
2.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$130 $130
-8.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.32 $11.32
22.26%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.5 $5.5
5.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.1 $3.1
-4.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.44 $2.44
2.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.83 $7.83
-0.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.79 $8.79
-10.81%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.26 $1.26
6.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.25 $4.25
17.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$6.55 $6.55
-18.32%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.66 $4.66
48.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$16.61 $16.61
49.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$13.79 $13.79
14.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$20.3 $20.3
2.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.89 $5.89
2.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.12 $2.12
29.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$6.43 $6.43
-14.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$7.98 $7.98
-19.17%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$4.44 $4.44
-29.95%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.68 $3.68
0.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.75 $2.75
1.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.54 $2.54
-0.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$13.64 $13.64
-14.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$17.13 $17.13
0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.92 $2.92
0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$5.48 $5.48
-23.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.33 $2.33
20.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$88.9 $88.9
13.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.62 $2.62
2.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.76 $1.76
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$27.96 $27.96
7.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.88 $0.88
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$30.5K $30.5K
9.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.62%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$191 $191
42.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$58.1 $58.1
6.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$77.9 $77.9
-3.48%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$80 $80
-1.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$30.42 $30.42
34.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.37 $15.37
3.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$2,755 $2,755
-18.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$27.2K $27.2K
6.74%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$67.8 $67.8
2.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$44.6 $44.6
17.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$104 $104
15.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$150 $150
-4.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$3,432 $3,432
-30.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,610 $2,610
-29.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$6,218 $6,218
-24.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,949 $3,949
-12.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$9,631 $9,631
-28.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$6,118 $6,118
-14.61%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Boston, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$6,166 $6,166
4.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.43
-0.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

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