Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Chelan, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chelan, WA: $2,633 a month against $3,762 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

182

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Chelan, WA
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Chelan, WA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,762

/mo nomad

Chelan, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,633

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Chelan, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Chelan, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,762 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,633 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,762
Chelan, WA $2,633

A couple spends around $5,651 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,911 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,651
Chelan, WA $3,911

A family of three spends $7,541 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,189 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,541
Chelan, WA $5,189

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than Chelan, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Chelan, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Chelan, WA by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.80 $23.80

$23.61 $23.61

0.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$99.5 $99.5

-0.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.94 $14.94

$15.07 $15.07

-0.86%

Cappuccino

$6.79 $6.79

$6.80 $6.80

-0.15%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$3.11 $3.11

3.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.16 $3.16

-0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.18 $8.18

0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.76 $7.76

1.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.03 $1.03

13.59%

White Bread (500g)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.33 $3.33

58.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.28 $4.28

34.58%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.04 $5.04

-2.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.25 $20.25

$10.94 $10.94

85.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

$6.55 $6.55

174.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.35 $23.35

$11.15 $11.15

109.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$4.48 $4.48

32.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.95 $1.95

-3.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.51 $4.51

18.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.49 $4.49

46.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.13 $2.13

59.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.15 $2.15

33.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.01 $2.01

43.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.36 $2.36

2.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$8.76 $8.76

39.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$10.13 $10.13

50.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.14 $4.14

5.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.90 $4.90

20.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.95 $1.95

51.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$58.9 $58.9

85.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.63 $2.63

-4.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$30.25 $30.25

-1.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.36 $1.36

11.03%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$34.6K $34.6K

4.53%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.17%

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

$289 $289

$253 $253

13.94%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$69.4 $69.4

-0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$49.32 $49.32

72.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$41.77 $41.77

66.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.05 $35.05

$10.16 $10.16

244.98%

Cinema Ticket

$17.97 $17.97

$11.97 $11.97

50.13%

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

$2,819 $2,819

$2,822 $2,822

-0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.9K $43.9K

$20.4K $20.4K

115.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.2 $91.2

$39.57 $39.57

130.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$25.23 $25.23

118.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$59.5 $59.5

113.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$98.6 $98.6

64.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,579 $2,579

$1,609 $1,609

60.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 $1,943

$1,267 $1,267

53.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,100 $5,100

$2,542 $2,542

100.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,541 $3,541

$2,136 $2,136

65.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,357 $7,357

$2,649 $2,649

177.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,921 $4,921

$2,619 $2,619

87.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,448 $6,448

$3,929 $3,929

64.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

13.33%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chelan, WA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.6%

Chelan, WA

$1.3K 48.1% 34.8% $675

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$544 14.5%

Chelan, WA

$352 13.4% 35.2% $191

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$443 11.8%

Chelan, WA

$372 14.1% 15.9% $70

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$399 10.6%

Chelan, WA

$397 15.1% 0.5% $1.9

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$196 5.2%

Chelan, WA

$100 3.8% 48.8% $96

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5%

Chelan, WA

$78 3% 41.1% $54

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$105 2.8%

Chelan, WA

$66 2.5% 37.6% $40

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,579 in Seattle, WA versus $1,609 in Chelan, WA. 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 64% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99 in Seattle, WA versus $99 in Chelan, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $544 in Seattle, WA vs $352 in Chelan, WA – so Chelan, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Chelan, WA

🕒 Local time

01:11 1:11 AM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

4,200

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chelan, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than Chelan, WA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,642 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,950 in Chelan, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chelan, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,609 there versus $2,579 in Seattle, WA.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Chelan, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,762 in Seattle, WA and $2,633 in Chelan, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,633 in Chelan, WA to $3,762 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chelan, WA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.