Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Brunswick, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Brunswick, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,607 in Brunswick, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,975 in Brunswick, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,343 in Brunswick, ME.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 49% more expensive than in Brunswick, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Brunswick, ME 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$25.43 $25.43

-0.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$121 $121

-16.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.91 $14.91

-0.74%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$6.15 $6.15

7.80%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.06 $3.06

0.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.49 $2.49

18.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.12 $8.12

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.11 $8.11

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.99 $0.99

23.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.24 $3.24

58.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.38 $3.38

82.25%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.52 $2.52

101.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.11 $13.11

62.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$10.35 $10.35

77.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$16.36 $16.36

40.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.17 $5.17

16.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.49 $1.49

26.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.51 $4.51

15.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$6.77 $6.77

-5.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.19 $3.19

18.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.66 $3.66

-9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.51 $2.51

14.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.92 $1.92

38.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$8.88 $8.88

56.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$12.73 $12.73

18.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.40 $1.40

197.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$1.90 $1.90

196.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.29 $2.29

29.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.97 $1.97

30.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.50 $1.50

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$10.91 $10.91

170.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.91 $0.91

60.44%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-2.13%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

0.24%

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

$306 $306

$158 $158

94.33%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$69.9 $69.9

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$78.4 $78.4

11.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$47.05 $47.05

69.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.99 $13.99

27.59%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,257 $1,257

140.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

20.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$53.3 $53.3

43.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$78.8 $78.8

-31.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$101 $101

24.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$132 $132

23.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,571 $1,571

56.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,312 $1,312

50.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,471 $2,471

97.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,091 $2,091

73.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$3,043 $3,043

142.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,197 $2,197

127.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$4,644 $4,644

32.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.23

3.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Brunswick, ME: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,571 in Brunswick, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 33% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $121 in Brunswick, ME. Groceries flip the comparison at $551 vs $379, with Brunswick, ME cheaper for home cooking.

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 Brunswick, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brunswick, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,571 in Brunswick, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,257 in Brunswick, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brunswick, ME – a meal for two runs $121 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brunswick, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Brunswick, ME is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Brunswick, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.