Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Dothan, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Dothan, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,646 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,811 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,976 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 37% more than Dothan, AL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Dothan, AL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Dothan, AL by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$20.92 $20.92

18.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$60.1 $60.1

97.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$10.48 $10.48

31.49%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.03 $5.03

11.53%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$1.87 $1.87

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.79 $1.79

37.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.07 $4.07

95.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.58 $5.58

47.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.04 $1.04

33.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.79 $3.79

28.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.66 $5.66

-8.83%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.27 $4.27

54.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$13.53 $13.53

85.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.39 $15.39

2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$11.46 $11.46

77.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$7.16 $7.16

-12.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.57 $1.57

74.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$6.45 $6.45

-17.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.01 $5.01

29.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.30 $3.30

-6.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.38 $3.38

14.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.41 $2.41

14.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.06 $3.06

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$7.65 $7.65

48.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$13.67 $13.67

13.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.41 $3.41

-16.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.89 $4.89

-13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.48 $3.48

-26.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.47 $1.47

17.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$23.65 $23.65

27.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.76 $0.76

51.32%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$35.8K $35.8K

-7.04%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.05%

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

$263 $263

$190 $190

38.21%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$57.7 $57.7

4.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$67.4 $67.4

10.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.44 $42.44

89.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$13.59 $13.59

17.07%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,245 $1,245

83.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

16.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$34.46 $34.46

103.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$40.74 $40.74

32.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$70.1 $70.1

69.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$99.7 $99.7

43.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$743 $743

211.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,369 $1,369

33.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$1,412 $1,412

232.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,236 $2,236

56.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$1,463 $1,463

457.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$1,459 $1,459

256.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,292 $3,292

99.37%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Dothan, AL: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $743 in Dothan, AL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 99% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $60.0 in Dothan, AL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $453 – making Dothan, AL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dothan, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA, $2,646 in Dothan, AL – roughly 37% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,969 in Dothan, AL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dothan, AL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,646 in Dothan, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,245 in Dothan, AL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Dothan, AL, where all-in costs run around $2,646, than in Seattle, WA at $3,634. In Dothan, AL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,646 in Dothan, AL to $3,634 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dothan, AL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.