Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and College Park, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and College Park, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,996 in College Park, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,383 in College Park, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,769 in College Park, MD, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 19% more than College Park, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and College Park, MD sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, College Park, MD by 124%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.26 $20.26

22.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$79.1 $79.1

50.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$13.23 $13.23

6.95%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.45 $5.45

4.77%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.78 $2.78

5.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.24 $2.24

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.91 $5.91

33.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.93 $7.93

1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.90 $0.90

51.11%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.24 $3.24

56.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$7.08 $7.08

-25.85%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.95 $4.95

39.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$18.88 $18.88

32.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.08 $10.08

56.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$16.47 $16.47

25.80%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.14 $6.14

0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.83 $1.83

52.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$8.16 $8.16

-32.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.45 $6.45

-0.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.67 $4.67

-32.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.69 $3.69

5.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.42 $2.42

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.48 $11.48

-0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.23 $14.23

10.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.77 $1.77

62.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.68 $3.68

15.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.94 $1.94

39.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.37 $4.37

-40.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.50 $1.50

8.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.24 $29.24

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$26.9K $26.9K

21.84%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.3K $24.3K

8.75%

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

$264 $264

$220 $220

19.76%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$62.9 $62.9

-2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$71.9 $71.9

4.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$40.49 $40.49

92.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.09 $15.09

6.76%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,746 $1,746

26.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

21.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$54.2 $54.2

27.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$32.82 $32.82

63.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$96.9 $96.9

23.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$182 $182

-21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,634 $1,634

44.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,602 $1,602

14.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,637 $3,637

28.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,731 $2,731

30.78%

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

$6,391 $6,391

1.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for College Park, MD: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,634 in College Park, MD. 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 1% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in College Park, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $457 – making College Park, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 College Park, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA, $2,996 in College Park, MD – roughly 19% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,495 in College Park, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in College Park, MD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,996 in College Park, MD. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,212 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,746 in College Park, MD. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,996 in College Park, MD. 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 $2,996 in College Park, MD to $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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