Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Brownsville, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Brownsville, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,951 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,696 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,441 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 84% more than Brownsville, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Brownsville, TX sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Brownsville, TX by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$9.91 $9.91

150.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$55.1 $55.1

113.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.78 $11.78

16.89%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.91 $4.91

16.29%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.05 $2.05

48.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.04 $2.04

22.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.34 $5.34

46.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.66 $7.66

2.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.90 $0.90

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.15 $2.15

135.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.22 $2.22

142.79%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.86 $2.86

139.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$8.97 $8.97

179.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.37 $11.37

39.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$9.11 $9.11

126.02%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.57 $2.57

138.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.56 $1.56

80.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$1.61 $1.61

242.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.01 $2.01

235.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.58 $5.58

-43.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.08 $1.08

253.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.98 $0.98

174.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.02 $1.02

158.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.35 $9.35

24.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.78 $14.78

6.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.78 $1.78

64.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.87 $4.87

-12.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.52 $3.52

-26.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.65 $1.65

4.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.15 $29.15

3.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.72 $0.72

65.28%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

10.81%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.72%

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

$263 $263

$333 $333

-21.27%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$76.0 $76.0

-19.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$77.7 $77.7

-2.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$50.8 $50.8

56.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.32 $14.32

13.62%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$598 $598

281.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.5K $23.5K

24.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$50.4 $50.4

36.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.70 $40.70

27.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$87.7 $87.7

31.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

26.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$798 $798

192.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$672 $672

177.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$948 $948

387.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$936 $936

271.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,841 $1,841

321.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,841 $1,841

184.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,263 $3,263

102.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

5.47

17.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Brownsville, TX: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $798 in Brownsville, TX. 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 103% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $55.0 in Brownsville, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $284 – making Brownsville, TX 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 Brownsville, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $1,951 in Brownsville, TX – roughly 84% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,926 in Brownsville, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $1,951 in Brownsville, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $598 in Brownsville, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Brownsville, TX, where all-in costs run around $1,951, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Brownsville, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,951 in Brownsville, TX to $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Brownsville, TX. 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.