Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Columbia, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Columbia, MD

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 40.9% more expensive than Columbia, MD without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 13.5% more expensive than Columbia, MD without rent, and 31.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$19.63 $19.63
27.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$78.5 $78.5
50.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.32 $11.32
22.26%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5 $5
16.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.42 $2.42
21.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.18 $2.18
15.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.37 $6.37
22.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.9 $7.9
-0.76%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.18 $1.18
13.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.86 $3.86
29.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.53 $4.53
18.10%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$6.47 $6.47
6.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$13.3 $13.3
86.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$9.81 $9.81
60.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$16.24 $16.24
28.33%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.99 $6.99
-13.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.32 $1.32
108.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$7.22 $7.22
-24.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$5.47 $5.47
17.92%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.82 $2.82
10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.34 $3.34
10.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.42 $2.42
14.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.63 $2.63
-4.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.05 $11.05
5.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$16.71 $16.71
2.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.69 $1.69
73.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.85 $3.85
8.83%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.87 $1.87
49.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$72.9 $72.9
38.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.75 $1.75
53.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.35 $1.35
22.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$23.55 $23.55
27.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.84 $0.84
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$25.3K $25.3K
31.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.3K $24.3K
8.14%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$173 $173
56.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$51.8 $51.8
19.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$74.8 $74.8
0.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$49.84 $49.84
57.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$19.91 $19.91
106.13%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$14.98 $14.98
6.07%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,291 $1,291
74.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$33.1K $33.1K
-12.21%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$51.8 $51.8
34.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$70.7 $70.7
-25.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$116 $116
3.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$111 $111
28.68%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,060 $2,060
15.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,817 $1,817
0.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,982 $2,982
57.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,663 $2,663
30.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$2,303 $2,303
200.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,251 $2,251
132.10%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Columbia, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$5,681 $5,681
13.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.57
-2.28%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Columbia, MD: October 29, 2025

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