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: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,172 in Dayton, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,126 in Dayton, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,079 in Dayton, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 66% more expensive than in Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Dayton, OH 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$16.19 $16.19

53.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$60.9 $60.9

100.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.17 $10.17

37.86%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.17 $4.17

33.33%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.34 $2.34

30.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.79 $1.79

33.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.33 $4.33

83.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$5.87 $5.87

37.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.79 $0.79

74.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.49 $2.49

98.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.80 $3.80

40.79%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.37 $3.37

95.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$11.20 $11.20

122.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$18.60 $18.60

-14.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.23 $15.23

32.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.76 $4.76

29.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.55 $1.55

78.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.59 $5.59

-3.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.48 $5.48

18.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.86 $2.86

12.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.05 $3.05

22.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.15 $2.15

32.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.78 $2.78

-5.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.17 $9.17

27.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$11.78 $11.78

31.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.74 $1.74

62.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.81 $3.81

11.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.12 $4.12

-33.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$60.4 $60.4

61.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.95 $4.95

-47.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.36 $1.36

21.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$49.69 $49.69

-40.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.9K $29.9K

10.81%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.01%

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

$270 $270

$204 $204

32.22%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$44.59 $44.59

33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$63.7 $63.7

16.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$33.72 $33.72

130.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

$45.77 $45.77

-10.36%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.23 $13.23

19.27%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$550 $550

314.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$5,062 $5,062

489.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$45.80 $45.80

52.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$53.0 $53.0

-1.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$72.4 $72.4

62.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$108 $108

32.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,198 $1,198

94.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$936 $936

102.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,675 $1,675

183.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,373 $1,373

152.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$1,444 $1,444

244.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,360 $3,360

97.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Dayton, OH: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,198 in Dayton, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 98% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $61.0 in Dayton, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $413 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 66% 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 98% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,198 in Dayton, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,172 in Dayton, OH – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 62% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,172 in Dayton, OH versus $3,604 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 $2,172 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 66% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.