Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Cruz Bay

For one person, living is cheaper in Cruz Bay: $2,940 a month against $3,744 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,744

/mo nomad

Cruz Bay

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

$2,940

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Cruz Bay

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Cruz Bay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,744 in Seattle, WA versus $2,940 in Cruz Bay.

Seattle, WA $3,744
Cruz Bay $2,940

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,703 in Seattle, WA versus $4,735 in Cruz Bay.

Seattle, WA $5,703
Cruz Bay $4,735

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,661 in Seattle, WA versus $6,530 in Cruz Bay.

Seattle, WA $7,661
Cruz Bay $6,530

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than in Cruz Bay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Cruz Bay 119% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.56 $24.56

$29.40 $29.40

-16.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$92.2 $92.2

7.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.30 $15.30

$16.78 $16.78

-8.82%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$9.25 $9.25

-28.43%

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

$3.25 $3.25

$2.96 $2.96

9.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.90 $3.90

-20.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.96 $7.96

-2.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$9.16 $9.16

-13.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$8.23 $8.23

-85.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.94 $4.94

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$4.93 $4.93

0.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.00 $19.00

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.69 $18.69

$15.54 $15.54

20.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.14 $23.14

Apples (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$8.57 $8.57

-30.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

Oranges (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 $2.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.36 $12.36

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$25.46 $25.46

-41.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.30 $4.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 $5.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.02 $30.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

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

$36.7K $36.7K

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

$25.7K $25.7K

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

$299 $299

$357 $357

-16.09%

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

$69.7 $69.7

$141 $141

-50.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$90.1 $90.1

$59.6 $59.6

51.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.0 $80.0

$90.0 $90.0

-11.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.62 $35.62

Cinema Ticket

$17.33 $17.33

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

$2,986 $2,986

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$13.2K $13.2K

136.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 $77.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 $54.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,407 $2,407

$1,799 $1,799

33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 $1,963

$1,523 $1,523

28.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,788 $4,788

$3,551 $3,551

34.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,561 $3,561

$3,454 $3,454

3.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,430 $7,430

$10.9K $10.9K

-31.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,010 $5,010

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,280 $6,280

$6,136 $6,136

2.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

37.00%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 6, 2026

Last update for Cruz Bay: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$2K 51.6%

Cruz Bay

–

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$541 14.2%

Cruz Bay

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$459 12.1%

Cruz Bay

–

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$402 10.6%

Cruz Bay

–

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$191 5%

Cruz Bay

–

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5%

Cruz Bay

–

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$115 3%

Cruz Bay

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,407 in Seattle, WA and $1,799 in Cruz Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 2% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $92.0 in Cruz Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $274 per month, with Cruz Bay cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇻🇮 Cruz Bay

🕒 Local time

11:18 11:18 AM

14:18 2:18 PM

3 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

2,743

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Cruz Bay 6,100 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

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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 Cruz Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Cruz Bay differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($3,744 vs $2,940 including rent). Cruz Bay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 2% 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: $2,407 in Seattle, WA versus $1,799 in Cruz Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cruz Bay – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,744 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,940 in Cruz Bay – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Cruz Bay is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Cruz Bay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cruz Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.