Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Boulder, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Boulder, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,285 in Boulder, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,604 in Boulder, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,924 in Boulder, CO, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 11% more than Boulder, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Boulder, CO sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Boulder, CO by 145%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$20.04 $20.04

26.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$68.7 $68.7

76.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.04 $11.04

27.81%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.94 $5.94

-2.02%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.33 $3.33

-10.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.44 $2.44

-1.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.06 $6.06

27.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.98 $6.98

12.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.03 $1.03

30.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.69 $3.69

33.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.49 $4.49

14.48%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$5.54 $5.54

18.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$13.29 $13.29

85.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$14.76 $14.76

7.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$17.34 $17.34

16.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.36 $4.36

43.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.44 $1.44

98.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.69 $3.69

43.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.83 $4.83

32.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.70 $2.70

18.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.61 $2.61

46.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.24 $2.24

22.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.30 $2.30

12.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$10.19 $10.19

14.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$17.17 $17.17

-8.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.86 $1.86

54.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.83 $3.83

14.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.74 $2.74

0.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$153 $153

-35.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.54 $2.54

5.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.42 $1.42

19.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$24.34 $24.34

22.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

22.65%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.63%

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

$268 $268

$191 $191

40.23%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$60.0 $60.0

1.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$72.4 $72.4

5.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$79.6 $79.6

-2.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

$20.39 $20.39

96.91%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$16.74 $16.74

-5.50%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,440 $1,440

56.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$30.6K $30.6K

-2.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$73.7 $73.7

-3.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$36.83 $36.83

44.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$89.2 $89.2

31.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$100.0 $100.0

38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$2,122 $2,122

8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,822 $1,822

1.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$3,968 $3,968

19.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,806 $2,806

26.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$4,412 $4,412

76.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$4,514 $4,514

18.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$5,220 $5,220

25.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Boulder, CO: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $2,122 in Boulder, CO. 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 26% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $69 in Boulder, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $423 – making Boulder, CO 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 Boulder, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 11%, 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,927 in Boulder, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 27% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA and $69.0 in Boulder, CO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $3,285 in Boulder, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Boulder, CO – 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 Boulder, CO. 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.