Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Burlington, VT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Burlington, VT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $3,079 in Burlington, VT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $4,226 in Burlington, VT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,373 in Burlington, VT.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 18% more expensive than in Burlington, VT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Burlington, VT 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.63 $20.63

21.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$81.3 $81.3

45.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.32 $11.32

21.55%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.08 $5.08

15.16%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.54 $2.54

20.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.25 $2.25

6.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.13 $7.13

11.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.83 $7.83

0.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.19 $1.19

16.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.20 $4.20

15.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.46 $5.46

-5.13%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.52 $4.52

48.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$13.75 $13.75

83.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.87 $10.87

46.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$13.48 $13.48

49.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.78 $5.78

7.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.95 $1.95

47.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.57 $5.57

-1.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$6.79 $6.79

-6.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.63 $4.63

-33.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.74 $3.74

1.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.87 $2.87

-2.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$0.98 $0.98

166.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$12.18 $12.18

-6.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$12.58 $12.58

23.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.69 $1.69

76.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.91 $2.91

45.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$49.91 $49.91

102.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.57 $2.57

4.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$28.25 $28.25

4.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

10.85%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.62%

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

$261 $261

$190 $190

37.74%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$57.3 $57.3

5.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$61.1 $61.1

24.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$75.8 $75.8

4.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$27.90 $27.90

43.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$11.96 $11.96

32.27%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,267 $1,267

74.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$12.2K $12.2K

144.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$62.3 $62.3

12.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$29.83 $29.83

74.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$54.1 $54.1

116.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$90.3 $90.3

53.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,784 $1,784

30.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,821 $1,821

2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,972 $2,972

59.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,374 $2,374

50.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$3,875 $3,875

97.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$3,355 $3,355

50.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,627 $4,627

40.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.43

-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Burlington, VT: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,784 in Burlington, VT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 41% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Burlington, VT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $411 per month, with Burlington, VT 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 Burlington, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burlington, VT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,784 in Burlington, VT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Burlington, VT runs roughly 102% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,210 in Seattle, WA versus $1,267 in Burlington, VT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

For families, Burlington, VT 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 Burlington, VT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.