Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,773 in Duluth, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,912 in Duluth, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $5,051 in Duluth, GA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 29% more expensive than Duluth, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Duluth, GA 107% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.97 $24.97
$18.27 $18.27
36.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$83.8 $83.8
42.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.90 $13.90
$8.83 $8.83
57.42%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.34 $5.34
4.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.53 $2.53
20.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.01 $2.01
22.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.96 $7.96
$6.63 $6.63
20.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01 $8.01
$6.64 $6.64
20.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.98 $0.98
36.73%
White Bread (500g)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.64 $3.64
38.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$3.94 $3.94
36.04%
Eggs
$6.59 $6.59
$3.80 $3.80
73.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.31 $25.31
$12.18 $12.18
107.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.19 $16.19
$8.94 $8.94
81.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.30 $20.30
$15.94 $15.94
27.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.97 $5.97
$5.10 $5.10
17.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.47 $1.47
86.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$4.06 $4.06
32.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 $6.61
$4.29 $4.29
54.08%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.39 $3.39
-4.13%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$3.36 $3.36
12.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.30 $2.30
18.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.11 $2.11
19.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.31 $11.31
$12.66 $12.66
-10.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.28 $16.28
$14.98 $14.98
8.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.78 $1.78
60.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 $4.16
$2.94 $2.94
41.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.33 $2.33
15.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.1 $97.1
$34.93 $34.93
177.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.44 $2.44
11.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.52 $1.52
13.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.46 $29.46
$30.54 $30.54
-3.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$0.80 $0.80
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K $33.6K
$30.7K $30.7K
9.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$235 $235
13.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$54.3 $54.3
11.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2 $76.2
$66.1 $66.1
15.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.2 $79.2
$42.66 $42.66
85.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.51 $40.51
$9.89 $9.89
309.61%
Cinema Ticket
$16.22 $16.22
$15.88 $15.88
2.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,280 $2,280
$1,188 $1,188
91.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.6K $29.6K
$21.2K $21.2K
39.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 $69.6
$55.7 $55.7
25.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6 $52.6
$39.08 $39.08
34.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$102 $102
17.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$122 $122
17.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,774 $1,774
34.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,866 $1,866
$1,527 $1,527
22.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,724 $4,724
$2,442 $2,442
93.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 $3,510
$2,181 $2,181
60.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,711 $7,711
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,381 $5,381
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Duluth, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,493 $6,493
$4,158 $4,158
56.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.56
-2.13%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Duluth, GA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,774 in Duluth, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 56% 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 $84.0 in Duluth, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $374 per month, with Duluth, GA 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 Duluth, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA?
Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($3,583 vs $2,773 including rent). Duluth, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Seattle, WA or Duluth, GA?
Seattle, WA pays 56% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,774 in Duluth, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA?
Childcare runs $2,280 in Seattle, WA versus $1,188 in Duluth, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Duluth, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Seattle, WA or Duluth, GA?
Expats usually find Duluth, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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