Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Cambridge, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Cambridge, MA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 30.3% more expensive than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 5.8% more expensive than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$16.93 $16.93
48.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$102 $102
16.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.83 $11.83
16.99%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.57 $5.57
4.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.03 $3.03
-2.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.42 $2.42
3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.89 $7.89
-1.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.06 $8.06
-2.73%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.14 $1.14
17.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.02 $4.02
23.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$6.52 $6.52
-17.94%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.79 $4.79
44.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$15.17 $15.17
63.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$13.38 $13.38
17.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$20.7 $20.7
0.68%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.79 $6.79
-10.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.94 $1.94
41.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$6.3 $6.3
-13.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.32 $6.32
2.06%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.25 $3.25
-4.31%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.52 $3.52
4.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.36 $2.36
17.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.6 $2.6
-3.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$13.74 $13.74
-15.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.93 $14.93
14.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.68 $1.68
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$5.72 $5.72
-26.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.4 $2.4
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$89.4 $89.4
12.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.57 $2.57
4.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.73 $1.73
-4.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$28.31 $28.31
6.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.9 $0.9
28.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$29.6K $29.6K
12.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$160 $160
69.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$52.7 $52.7
17.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$55.3 $55.3
35.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$101 $101
-22.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$30.36 $30.36
35.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.32 $15.32
3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$2,793 $2,793
-19.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$27.7K $27.7K
4.83%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$67.2 $67.2
3.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$44.67 $44.67
17.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$102 $102
17.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$148 $148
-4.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,818 $2,818
-15.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,865 $2,865
-36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$5,085 $5,085
-7.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,510 $3,510
-1.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$4,887 $4,887
41.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$4,940 $4,940
5.76%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$6,088 $6,088
6.32%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

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