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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,565 in Caldwell, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,762 in Caldwell, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,959 in Caldwell, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 43% more expensive than Caldwell, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Caldwell, TX 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.85 $18.85

34.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$75.0 $75.0

61.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.83 $10.83

30.29%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.11 $5.11

13.89%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.52 $2.52

18.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.98 $1.98

21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.86 $5.86

31.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.84 $6.84

15.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.50 $3.50

40.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.30 $4.30

19.53%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.24 $4.24

54.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.33 $12.33

99.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.72 $11.72

35.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.26 $15.26

31.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.85 $4.85

29.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.63 $1.63

75.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.23 $4.23

25.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.81 $4.81

32.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.82 $2.82

13.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.81 $2.81

36.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.05 $2.05

33.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.10 $2.10

22.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.35 $9.35

24.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.08 $14.08

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.80 $1.80

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.42 $3.42

28.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.46 $3.46

-22.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.63 $1.63

4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.64 $29.64

0.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.91 $0.91

25.27%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.1K $29.1K

13.18%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.10%

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

$268 $268

$186 $186

44.29%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.3 $53.3

14.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$68.6 $68.6

11.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.67 $43.67

78.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

$10.20 $10.20

293.63%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.30 $13.30

18.95%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,279 $1,279

76.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$50.7 $50.7

39.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.61 $40.61

30.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.8 $86.8

35.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$112 $112

24.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,593 $1,593

45.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,358 $1,358

36.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,614 $2,614

81.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,212 $2,212

60.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,659 $2,659

192.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,405 $2,405

122.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$1,364 $1,364

382.05%

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 Caldwell, TX: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,593 in Caldwell, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 382% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $75 in Caldwell, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $387 per month, with Caldwell, TX 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 Caldwell, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Caldwell, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Caldwell, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 382% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,593 in Caldwell, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,279 in Caldwell, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Caldwell, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Caldwell, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Caldwell, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,565 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Caldwell, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Caldwell, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Caldwell, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.