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 $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,618 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,783 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,949 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 38% more than Dothan, AL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Dothan, AL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Dothan, AL by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.61 $20.61

21.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$58.8 $58.8

100.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.25 $10.25

34.24%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.00 $5.00

17.00%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.80 $1.80

69.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.79 $1.79

33.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$4.02 $4.02

97.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.62 $5.62

39.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.00 $1.00

39.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.75 $3.75

29.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.41 $5.41

-4.25%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.09 $4.09

63.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$13.84 $13.84

82.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$15.57 $15.57

2.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$11.74 $11.74

71.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$7.30 $7.30

-15.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.55 $1.55

85.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$6.53 $6.53

-16.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.92 $4.92

29.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.34 $3.34

-7.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.25 $3.25

16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.51 $2.51

11.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.96 $2.96

-11.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.31 $7.31

56.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$13.47 $13.47

15.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.44 $3.44

-13.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.02 $5.02

-15.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.54 $3.54

-24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.50 $1.50

13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$23.79 $23.79

24.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.77 $0.77

48.05%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$36.5K $36.5K

-8.74%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.75%

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

$261 $261

$195 $195

34.02%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$56.5 $56.5

6.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$67.6 $67.6

12.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$43.30 $43.30

82.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.65 $13.65

15.90%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,242 $1,242

77.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

15.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$34.39 $34.39

103.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.26 $39.26

32.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$68.9 $68.9

69.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$99.7 $99.7

39.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$750 $750

209.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,369 $1,369

36.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,393 $1,393

239.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,198 $2,198

62.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$1,497 $1,497

411.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$1,493 $1,493

237.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$3,271 $3,271

99.22%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Dothan, AL: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $750 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $59.0 in Dothan, AL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 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: $3,621 in Seattle, WA, $2,618 in Dothan, AL – roughly 38% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,927 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,618 in Dothan, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,242 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 $2,618, than in Seattle, WA at $3,621. 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 $2,618 in Dothan, AL to $3,621 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.