Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Denver, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Denver, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,134 in Denver, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,650 in Denver, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $6,166 in Denver, CO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 14% more expensive than in Denver, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Denver, CO 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.16 $20.16

22.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$85.1 $85.1

39.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.13 $12.13

16.65%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.41 $5.41

5.55%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.00 $3.00

-2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.21 $2.21

14.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.12 $7.12

10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.11 $8.11

-0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.07 $1.07

27.10%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.13 $4.13

22.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$5.99 $5.99

-12.35%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$5.53 $5.53

24.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$14.34 $14.34

73.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$12.84 $12.84

22.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$17.40 $17.40

19.08%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.57 $5.57

11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.90 $1.90

46.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.13 $5.13

7.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.34 $5.34

20.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.81 $2.81

12.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.65 $2.65

46.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.98 $1.98

36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.20 $2.20

15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.27 $10.27

10.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$19.86 $19.86

-21.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.40 $2.40

19.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.68 $3.68

15.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.94 $2.94

-7.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$87.4 $87.4

13.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.41 $3.41

-24.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.76 $1.76

-7.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$24.36 $24.36

21.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.91 $0.91

25.27%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

2.81%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.3K $27.3K

-3.27%

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

$264 $264

$173 $173

52.12%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$72.8 $72.8

-15.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$67.0 $67.0

12.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$61.9 $61.9

26.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$37.82 $37.82

6.50%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.24 $15.24

5.71%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,574 $1,574

40.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$16.2K $16.2K

78.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$59.5 $59.5

16.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$46.25 $46.25

16.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$96.3 $96.3

23.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$121 $121

16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,142 $2,142

10.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,714 $1,714

7.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,536 $3,536

32.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$3,020 $3,020

18.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$5,642 $5,642

33.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,705 $3,705

36.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,486 $4,486

44.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.37

0.78%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denver, CO: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,142 in Denver, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 44% 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 $85.0 in Denver, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $451 per month, with Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denver, CO wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Denver, CO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 44% 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 $2,142 in Denver, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Denver, CO – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Denver, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Denver, CO delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,134 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Denver, CO hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.