Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Denton, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Denton, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,273 in Denton, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,287 in Denton, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,301 in Denton, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 57% more expensive than in Denton, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Denton, TX 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$14.74 $14.74

68.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$64.5 $64.5

84.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.99 $8.99

57.40%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.80 $4.80

18.96%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.05 $2.05

42.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.69 $1.69

49.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.78 $5.78

36.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.12 $6.12

31.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.82 $0.82

65.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.82 $2.82

79.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.07 $4.07

28.99%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.80 $3.80

81.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$11.36 $11.36

119.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.37 $10.37

51.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$11.29 $11.29

83.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.41 $4.41

40.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.44 $1.44

93.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.22 $4.22

30.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.60 $4.60

39.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.88 $2.88

9.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.19 $2.19

77.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.72 $1.72

56.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.36 $2.36

7.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.12 $11.12

2.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$10.91 $10.91

43.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.77 $1.77

62.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.34 $2.34

82.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.98 $1.98

36.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$48.62 $48.62

103.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.32 $2.32

11.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.22 $1.22

33.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.67 $29.67

0.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

35.83%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

11.70%

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

$264 $264

$234 $234

12.87%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$72.6 $72.6

-15.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$82.0 $82.0

-8.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$26.57 $26.57

193.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$10.10 $10.10

59.50%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,586 $1,586

39.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

24.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$44.30 $44.30

56.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.01 $39.01

37.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$58.8 $58.8

102.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$74.7 $74.7

89.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,374 $1,374

71.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,039 $1,039

76.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,777 $2,777

68.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,815 $1,815

96.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$5,187 $5,187

45.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,363 $3,363

50.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,779 $3,779

71.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denton, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,374 in Denton, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 71% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $65.0 in Denton, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $342 per month, with Denton, TX 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 Denton, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denton, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Denton, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 71% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,374 in Denton, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Denton, TX – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,273 in Denton, TX versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denton, TX but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Denton, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Denton, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,273 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Denton, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Denton, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.