Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Columbus, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Columbus, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,635 in Columbus, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,906 in Columbus, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,178 in Columbus, OH, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Columbus, OH sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Columbus, OH by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.09 $20.09

23.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$79.9 $79.9

48.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.81 $10.81

30.90%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.81 $4.81

18.71%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.60 $2.60

12.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.27 $2.27

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.88 $5.88

34.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.06 $7.06

14.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.83 $0.83

63.86%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.14 $3.14

61.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.13 $4.13

27.12%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.28 $3.28

110.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$12.89 $12.89

93.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$14.15 $14.15

11.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$16.32 $16.32

26.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.93 $5.93

4.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.29 $1.29

116.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.70 $5.70

-3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.09 $5.09

26.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.64 $3.64

-13.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.98 $2.98

30.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.27 $2.27

18.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.47 $9.47

20.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$16.75 $16.75

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.99 $1.99

44.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.59 $2.59

64.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.05 $2.05

32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$61.0 $61.0

62.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.09 $3.09

-16.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.29 $1.29

26.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$27.48 $27.48

8.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

11.37%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.93%

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

$264 $264

$270 $270

-2.28%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$60.2 $60.2

2.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$68.5 $68.5

10.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$46.93 $46.93

66.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$39.93 $39.93

0.88%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$12.08 $12.08

33.36%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,214 $1,214

82.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$15.5K $15.5K

86.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$55.3 $55.3

25.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.16 $39.16

37.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$80.6 $80.6

47.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$104 $104

36.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,601 $1,601

47.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,215 $1,215

50.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,953 $2,953

58.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,068 $2,068

72.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,506 $3,506

115.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,764 $1,764

185.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,741 $3,741

73.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Columbus, OH: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,601 in Columbus, OH. 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 73% 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 $80.0 in Columbus, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $413 – making Columbus, OH 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 Columbus, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than Columbus, OH, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,952 in Columbus, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Columbus, OH, 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 $2,635 in Columbus, OH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 62% less in Columbus, OH. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,635 in Columbus, OH. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Columbus, OH costs $2,635 versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Columbus, OH. 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.