Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Butte, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Butte, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,019 in Butte, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,088 in Butte, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,157 in Butte, MT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 81% more than Butte, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Butte, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Butte, MT by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.18 $15.18

66.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$73.9 $73.9

64.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.93 $10.93

29.09%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.98 $4.98

16.87%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.60 $2.60

14.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.95 $1.95

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.94 $5.94

30.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.84 $6.84

15.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.22 $1.22

9.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.44 $2.44

101.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.01 $5.01

2.59%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.26 $4.26

54.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.21 $12.21

101.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$7.06 $7.06

124.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.41 $15.41

30.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.00 $5.00

25.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.57 $1.57

82.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.31 $4.31

22.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.85 $4.85

31.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.86 $2.86

12.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.15 $2.15

78.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.83 $1.83

49.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.09 $2.09

23.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$8.23 $8.23

41.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$9.34 $9.34

68.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.77 $1.77

62.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.27 $2.27

93.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.43 $3.43

-22.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.66 $1.66

2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.77 $29.77

-0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.07 $1.07

6.54%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.9K $29.9K

10.21%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.10%

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

$268 $268

$186 $186

44.42%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.8 $52.8

15.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$68.4 $68.4

11.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.60 $43.60

79.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.28 $13.28

19.13%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,280 $1,280

75.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$50.1 $50.1

41.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.59 $40.59

30.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.2 $86.2

36.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$113 $113

23.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,023 $1,023

125.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$882 $882

109.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,818 $1,818

160.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,628 $1,628

118.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,357 $2,357

229.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,276 $2,276

135.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,929 $3,929

67.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Butte, MT: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,023 in Butte, MT. 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 67% 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 $74 in Butte, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $345 – making Butte, MT 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 Butte, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 81% more than Butte, MT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,028 in Butte, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA and $74.0 in Butte, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Butte, MT, where all-in costs run around $2,019, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Butte, MT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Butte, MT costs $2,019 versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Butte, MT. 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.