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: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $2,858 in Duluth, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,931 in Duluth, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $5,004 in Duluth, GA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 24% more expensive than Duluth, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Duluth, GA 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$17.80 $17.80

42.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$84.9 $84.9

42.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$8.82 $8.82

56.58%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.09 $5.09

15.13%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.58 $2.58

16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.00 $2.00

20.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.59 $6.59

19.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.63 $6.63

23.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.02 $1.02

37.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.75 $3.75

30.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.81 $3.81

35.96%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.75 $3.75

82.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$12.03 $12.03

107.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$8.78 $8.78

78.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$15.60 $15.60

28.97%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.90 $4.90

22.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.54 $1.54

84.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.11 $4.11

30.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$4.38 $4.38

52.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.40 $3.40

-7.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.35 $3.35

10.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.32 $2.32

20.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.14 $2.14

23.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$12.36 $12.36

-8.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$15.21 $15.21

2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.77 $1.77

62.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$2.89 $2.89

45.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.42 $2.42

14.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

$34.93 $34.93

177.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.48 $2.48

4.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.52 $1.52

9.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$30.42 $30.42

-2.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$30.4K $30.4K

9.91%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.17%

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

$263 $263

$241 $241

9.08%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$55.0 $55.0

11.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$65.4 $65.4

14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$42.38 $42.38

88.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

$10.16 $10.16

304.04%

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$15.87 $15.87

-0.38%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,180 $1,180

94.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

41.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$54.2 $54.2

25.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$38.86 $38.86

34.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$103 $103

13.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$121 $121

14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,832 $1,832

29.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,501 $1,501

24.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,355 $2,355

101.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,166 $2,166

65.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$4,158 $4,158

59.23%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Duluth, GA: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $1,832 in Duluth, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $85.0 in Duluth, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $540 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

Seattle, WA and Duluth, GA differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($3,533 vs $2,858 including rent). Duluth, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 59% more on average, 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: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,832 in Duluth, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,289 in Seattle, WA versus $1,180 in Duluth, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Duluth, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.