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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,216 in Dayton, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,215 in Dayton, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,215 in Dayton, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 75% more expensive than in Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Dayton, OH 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$14.31 $14.31

74.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$69.0 $69.0

44.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.15 $10.15

48.37%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.12 $4.12

54.61%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.20 $2.20

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.93 $1.93

55.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$3.96 $3.96

96.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.58 $5.58

47.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.75 $0.75

61.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.88 $2.88

73.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.88 $3.88

64.69%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$3.77 $3.77

35.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.79 $12.79

64.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$22.14 $22.14

-16.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.35 $16.35

46.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.59 $4.59

28.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.75 $1.75

7.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$7.14 $7.14

-25.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.19 $5.19

24.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.87 $2.87

28.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.16 $3.16

6.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.25 $2.25

24.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.63 $2.63

-1.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.56 $8.56

62.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$19.04 $19.04

-21.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.77 $1.77

141.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.59 $3.59

63.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.98 $3.98

-26.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$49.31 $49.31

120.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.06 $5.06

-49.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.91 $1.91

-9.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$51.0 $51.0

-40.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.99 $0.99

41.41%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.7K $35.7K

1.00%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.46%

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

$299 $299

$202 $202

48.49%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$50.5 $50.5

37.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$58.8 $58.8

49.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$33.22 $33.22

141.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$44.53 $44.53

-21.56%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$13.63 $13.63

29.86%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$536 $536

463.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$6,537 $6,537

374.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$39.26 $39.26

96.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$47.98 $47.98

14.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$70.3 $70.3

82.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$123 $123

29.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,184 $1,184

110.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$901 $901

114.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,568 $1,568

203.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,356 $1,356

168.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,444 $1,444

253.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,402 $3,402

82.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.15

4.88%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Dayton, OH: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,184 in Dayton, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 83% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Dayton, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $463 per month, with Dayton, OH 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 Dayton, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dayton, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dayton, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 83% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,184 in Dayton, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,216 in Dayton, OH – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 121% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,216 in Dayton, OH versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dayton, OH but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Dayton, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Dayton, OH delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,216 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dayton, OH hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Dayton, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.