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 $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,051 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,236 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,420 in Dothan, AL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 89% more than Dothan, AL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Seattle, WA and Dothan, AL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Dothan, AL by 49%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$14.94 $14.94

69.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$49.62 $49.62

103.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.64 $9.64

53.53%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.95 $4.95

33.94%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.10 $2.10

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.86 $1.86

59.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.04 $5.04

57.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.80 $6.80

15.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.94 $0.94

29.79%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.40 $3.40

51.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.61 $3.61

70.64%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.83 $4.83

5.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$15.00 $15.00

42.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$15.47 $15.47

19.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$11.61 $11.61

98.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.08 $6.08

-0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.46 $1.46

28.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$6.09 $6.09

-14.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.89 $4.89

30.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.55 $3.55

6.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.70 $2.70

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.18 $2.18

31.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.80 $2.80

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$8.29 $8.29

67.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.75 $13.75

9.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.74 $3.74

11.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.98 $4.98

13.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.52 $3.52

-26.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.46 $1.46

13.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$23.93 $23.93

23.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.82 $0.82

78.05%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.2K $37.2K

-3.22%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.66%

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

$306 $306

$194 $194

58.13%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$68.7 $68.7

2.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$40.55 $40.55

115.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.01 $15.01

18.92%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,855 $1,855

62.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$22.3K $22.3K

39.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$52.5 $52.5

46.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$44.70 $44.70

20.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$94.7 $94.7

32.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$105 $105

54.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$919 $919

167.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$888 $888

123.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$1,446 $1,446

237.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,834 $1,834

97.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$1,487 $1,487

395.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$1,469 $1,469

240.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,270 $3,270

88.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.18

4.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Dothan, AL: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $919 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 89% 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $50.0 in Dothan, AL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $437 – 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: $3,886 in Seattle, WA, $2,051 in Dothan, AL – roughly 89% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,077 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 $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,051 in Dothan, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,018 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,855 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 $2,051, than in Seattle, WA at $3,886. 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 $2,051 in Dothan, AL to $3,886 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.