Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Brandon, MB

For one person, living is cheaper in Brandon, MB: $1,631 a month against $3,744 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $25,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,744
/mo nomad
Brandon, MB
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,631
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Brandon, MB

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Brandon, MB actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,744 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,631 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $3,744
  • Brandon, MB $1,631

A couple spends around $5,703 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,582 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $5,703
  • Brandon, MB $2,582

A family of three spends $7,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,532 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $7,661
  • Brandon, MB $3,532

Seattle, WA costs about 130% more than Brandon, MB, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Brandon, MB sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Brandon, MB by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56 $24.56
$13.81 CA$19.69
77.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$61.4 CA$87.5
62.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.30 $15.30
$10.69 CA$15.24
43.12%
Cappuccino
$6.62 $6.62
$3.02 CA$4.30
119.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.78 CA$2.53
82.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.60 CA$2.29
94.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.77 $7.77
$4.12 CA$5.87
88.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$5.28 CA$7.53
50.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.39 CA$1.97
-12.95%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$1.88 CA$2.68
162.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.18 CA$4.53
94.03%
Eggs
$4.96 $4.96
$3.04 CA$4.33
63.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.00 $19.00
$9.38 CA$13.37
102.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.69 $18.69
$10.40 CA$14.82
79.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.14 $23.14
$15.80 CA$22.53
46.46%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$3.13 CA$4.46
89.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.35 CA$1.92
43.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$3.34 CA$4.76
55.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$3.14 CA$4.47
108.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.29 CA$3.27
58.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.66 CA$3.79
18.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.55 CA$3.63
14.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.25 CA$1.79
90.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.36 $12.36
$14.50 CA$20.66
-14.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.83 CA$16.87
26.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.30 $4.30
$2.35 CA$3.35
82.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 $5.69
$2.20 CA$3.13
158.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.29 CA$1.84
136.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 $109
$68.8 CA$98.1
57.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.85 CA$4.06
-7.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.36 CA$1.93
27.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.02 $30.02
$23.93 CA$34.11
25.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.92 CA$1.32
58.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$27.6K CA$39.3K
33.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$19.2K CA$27.4K
33.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 $299
$162 CA$231
85.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.7 $69.7
$33.71 CA$48.05
106.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.1 $90.1
$47.97 CA$68.4
87.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 $80.0
$42.07 CA$60.0
90.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.62 $35.62
$16.21 CA$23.10
119.74%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33 $17.33
$10.73 CA$15.29
61.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,986 $2,986
$976 CA$1,391
205.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
$18.3K CA$26.1K
70.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 $77.7
$43.64 CA$62.2
78.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 $54.9
$41.95 CA$59.8
30.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$67.1 CA$95.6
87.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 $165
$84.9 CA$121
94.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$784 CA$1,118
206.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$567 CA$809
245.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,788 $4,788
$1,361 CA$1,941
251.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,561 $3,561
$1,208 CA$1,722
194.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,430 $7,430
$2,250 CA$3,207
230.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,010 $5,010
$2,229 CA$3,177
124.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Brandon, MB
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,280 $6,280
$2,417 CA$3,445
159.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
4.45
53.93%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 6, 2026

Last update for Brandon, MB: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$2K
Brandon, MB
$567 71.1% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$541
Brandon, MB
$315 41.7% $226
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$459
Brandon, MB
$243 47% $216
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$402
Brandon, MB
$223 44.4% $178
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$191
Brandon, MB
$107 43.9% $84
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$132
Brandon, MB
$84 36.7% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$115
Brandon, MB
$64 44.6% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,407 in Seattle, WA versus $784 in Brandon, MB. 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 160% 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 $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $61.0 in Brandon, MB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $541 vs $315 – making Brandon, MB the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇨🇦 Brandon, MB
🕒 Local time
06:46 6:46 AM
08:46 8:46 AM
2 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
46,061
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Brandon, MB 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Brandon, MB

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Brandon, MB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brandon, MB cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 130%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,616 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,447 in Brandon, MB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brandon, MB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Seattle, WA and in Brandon, MB?
Groceries cost about 72% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Seattle, WA or in Brandon, MB?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA and $61.0 in Brandon, MB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Seattle, WA or in Brandon, MB?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brandon, MB, where all-in costs run around $1,631, than in Seattle, WA at $3,744. In Brandon, MB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Seattle, WA or Brandon, MB more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Brandon, MB – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Brandon, MB. 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.

Seattle, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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