Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and College Station, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and College Station, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,086 in College Station, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,246 in College Station, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,405 in College Station, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 71% more expensive than in College Station, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, College Station, TX 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$12.83 $12.83

93.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$66.1 $66.1

79.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.53 $8.53

65.89%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.77 $4.77

19.71%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.81 $2.81

4.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.60 $1.60

57.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$4.58 $4.58

72.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.09 $6.09

32.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.97 $0.97

40.21%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.00 $3.00

69.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.17 $4.17

25.90%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$2.64 $2.64

161.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$11.13 $11.13

124.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$8.54 $8.54

84.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$13.64 $13.64

51.91%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.25 $6.25

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.37 $1.37

103.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.96 $5.96

-7.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.07 $4.07

57.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.01 $4.01

-21.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.18 $3.18

22.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.09 $2.09

29.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.87 $1.87

35.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$7.81 $7.81

45.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$13.77 $13.77

13.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.47 $3.47

22.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.98 $0.98

176.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$19.66 $19.66

402.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$7.49 $7.49

-65.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$3.77 $3.77

-56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$28.86 $28.86

2.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.73 $0.73

56.16%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$35.3K $35.3K

-7.03%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.50%

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

$264 $264

$185 $185

42.66%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$45.07 $45.07

36.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$64.3 $64.3

17.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$36.04 $36.04

116.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$17.66 $17.66

128.09%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$11.44 $11.44

40.82%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,154 $1,154

91.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$17.9K $17.9K

61.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$39.70 $39.70

74.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$38.13 $38.13

40.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$87.7 $87.7

35.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$152 $152

-6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,244 $1,244

89.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$966 $966

89.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$1,917 $1,917

144.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,861 $1,861

91.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$2,188 $2,188

244.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,145 $2,145

135.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,289 $4,289

50.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.71

-4.32%

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 Station, TX: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,244 in College Station, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 51% 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 $66.0 in College Station, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $360 per month, with College Station, TX 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 College Station, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

College Station, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making College Station, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 51% 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 $1,244 in College Station, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in College Station, TX runs roughly 403% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,212 in Seattle, WA versus $1,154 in College Station, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,086 in College Station, TX versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in College Station, TX but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes College Station, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but College Station, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,086 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes College Station, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find College Station, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.