Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Clearwater, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Clearwater, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $3,007 in Clearwater, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $4,417 in Clearwater, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $5,828 in Clearwater, FL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 20% more expensive than in Clearwater, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Clearwater, FL 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$18.91 $18.91

31.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$71.1 $71.1

71.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.81 $9.81

42.92%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.71 $4.71

18.05%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.32 $2.32

31.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.89 $1.89

26.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.42 $4.42

79.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.38 $7.38

9.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.13 $1.13

22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.56 $3.56

39.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.17 $4.17

28.30%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.41 $4.41

49.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.10 $12.10

105.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.33 $12.33

29.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$16.74 $16.74

20.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.30 $6.30

-2.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.42 $1.42

94.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.41 $5.41

-0.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.17 $5.17

26.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.46 $3.46

-7.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.70 $3.70

1.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.02 $2.02

40.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.70 $2.70

-2.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$6.82 $6.82

71.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$16.55 $16.55

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.75 $1.75

61.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.83 $3.83

10.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.96 $2.96

-6.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$32.46 $32.46

201.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.40 $3.40

-23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.71 $0.71

132.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$60.2 $60.2

-50.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$28.5K $28.5K

16.38%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.5K $24.5K

5.80%

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

$270 $270

$252 $252

6.93%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$43.67 $43.67

36.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$72.7 $72.7

2.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$39.29 $39.29

97.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

$25.12 $25.12

63.34%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$14.15 $14.15

11.52%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$430 $430

429.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$7,183 $7,183

315.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$66.8 $66.8

4.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$55.2 $55.2

-5.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$100 $100

17.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$167 $167

-14.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$2,149 $2,149

8.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,579 $1,579

20.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,632 $3,632

30.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,917 $2,917

19.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,953 $2,953

161.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,780 $2,780

79.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,760 $3,760

76.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.59

-2.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Clearwater, FL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $2,149 in Clearwater, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 77% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $71.0 in Clearwater, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $425 per month, with Clearwater, FL 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 Clearwater, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Clearwater, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 77% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $2,149 in Clearwater, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,007 in Clearwater, FL – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Clearwater, FL runs roughly 201% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Clearwater, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Clearwater, FL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Clearwater, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.