Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,094 in Bothell, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,701 in Bothell, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $6,308 in Bothell, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 15% more expensive than in Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Bothell, WA 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.20 $20.20

22.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$100 $100

18.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$13.88 $13.88

1.95%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.82 $5.82

-1.89%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.42 $3.42

-14.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.50 $2.50

0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.90 $6.90

14.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.83 $7.83

2.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.29 $1.29

5.43%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.86 $3.86

31.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$5.36 $5.36

-2.05%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$6.75 $6.75

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$17.12 $17.12

45.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.86 $10.86

45.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$16.57 $16.57

25.05%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.44 $6.44

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.85 $1.85

50.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.28 $5.28

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.30 $5.30

21.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.24 $3.24

-2.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.74 $2.74

41.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.96 $1.96

37.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.67 $2.67

-5.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.45 $11.45

-0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.82 $14.82

5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.91 $2.91

-1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.23 $4.23

0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.79 $2.79

-2.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$97.8 $97.8

1.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.63 $2.63

-1.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$30.50 $30.50

-2.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.17 $1.17

-2.56%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$32.9K $32.9K

-0.27%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

0.36%

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

$264 $264

$155 $155

69.71%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$61.8 $61.8

-0.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$80.7 $80.7

-6.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$59.0 $59.0

32.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.09 $15.09

6.76%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,464 $1,464

51.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$29.3K $29.3K

-1.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$51.5 $51.5

34.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$52.3 $52.3

2.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$140 $140

1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,900 $1,900

24.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,625 $1,625

12.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,315 $3,315

41.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,881 $2,881

23.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$5,900 $5,900

27.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$4,922 $4,922

2.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$6,241 $6,241

3.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.46

-0.62%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,900 in Bothell, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $100 in Bothell, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $454 per month, with Bothell, WA cheaper across the board.

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 Bothell, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $3,094 including rent). Bothell, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,900 in Bothell, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bothell, WA – a meal for two runs $100 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bothell, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bothell, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.