Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Castle Rock, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Castle Rock, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,374 in Castle Rock, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,505 in Castle Rock, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,636 in Castle Rock, CO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 50% more expensive than in Castle Rock, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Castle Rock, CO 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.11 $15.11

64.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$71.6 $71.6

66.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$7.73 $7.73

83.05%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.93 $4.93

15.82%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.01 $2.01

45.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.88 $1.88

34.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.09 $5.09

55.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.85 $4.85

65.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.00 $1.00

36.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.04 $3.04

66.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.28 $3.28

60.06%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.18 $4.18

65.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$10.81 $10.81

130.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$8.52 $8.52

84.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$16.26 $16.26

27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.81 $3.81

62.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.41 $1.41

97.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.75 $3.75

47.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.92 $4.92

30.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.32 $2.32

36.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$1.96 $1.96

98.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.27 $1.27

112.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$13.25 $13.25

-14.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$12.14 $12.14

29.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.24 $2.24

28.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.77 $2.77

53.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.99 $1.99

36.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.55 $2.55

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.41 $1.41

15.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$24.52 $24.52

21.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.77 $0.77

48.05%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$27.4K $27.4K

19.83%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.77%

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

$264 $264

$165 $165

59.78%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$40.52 $40.52

51.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$44.74 $44.74

68.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$59.6 $59.6

30.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$8.75 $8.75

84.11%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,473 $1,473

50.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$17.8K $17.8K

62.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$46.73 $46.73

48.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$49.76 $49.76

8.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$68.0 $68.0

75.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$108 $108

31.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,719 $1,719

37.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,350 $1,350

35.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,822 $2,822

66.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,183 $2,183

63.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,833 $5,833

10.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Castle Rock, CO: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,719 in Castle Rock, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 11% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $72.0 in Castle Rock, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $343 per month, with Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Castle Rock, CO differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $2,374 including rent). Castle Rock, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 11% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,719 in Castle Rock, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,374 in Castle Rock, CO – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Castle Rock, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Castle Rock, CO 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 Castle Rock, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.