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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,188 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,476 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,763 in Duluth, MN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 63% more than Duluth, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Duluth, MN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Duluth, MN by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$17.70 $17.70

40.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$65.6 $65.6

81.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.93 $9.93

42.50%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.52 $5.52

3.44%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.70 $2.70

8.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.87 $1.87

34.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.32 $6.32

24.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.98 $6.98

15.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.91 $0.91

49.45%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.84 $2.84

78.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.69 $3.69

42.28%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.10 $4.10

68.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$11.45 $11.45

117.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$11.11 $11.11

41.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$17.61 $17.61

17.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.27 $6.27

-1.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.48 $1.48

88.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.63 $7.63

-27.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.43 $5.43

18.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.09 $3.09

2.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.73 $3.73

4.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.11 $1.11

143.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.22 $2.22

13.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.20 $11.20

1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$16.26 $16.26

-3.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.75 $1.75

64.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.93 $3.93

8.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.30 $2.30

17.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$39.63 $39.63

149.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.34 $4.34

-40.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.69 $1.69

-3.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$24.05 $24.05

23.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.79 $0.79

44.30%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$22.4K $22.4K

46.52%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.4K $23.4K

12.80%

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

$264 $264

$161 $161

63.70%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$43.34 $43.34

42.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$69.6 $69.6

8.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$62.5 $62.5

24.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$25.54 $25.54

57.71%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.43 $14.43

11.64%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,036 $1,036

113.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$10.0K $10.0K

189.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$64.0 $64.0

8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$44.29 $44.29

21.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$88.6 $88.6

34.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$117 $117

21.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,213 $1,213

94.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$904 $904

102.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,293 $2,293

104.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,985 $1,985

79.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$2,380 $2,380

216.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,269 $2,269

122.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,779 $3,779

71.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.37

0.78%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Duluth, MN: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,213 in Duluth, MN. 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 71% 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 $66.0 in Duluth, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $406 – making Duluth, MN 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 Duluth, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,283 in Duluth, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Duluth, MN, 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 $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,188 in Duluth, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 149% less in Duluth, MN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Duluth, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,188, than in Seattle, WA at $3,565. In Duluth, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duluth, MN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Duluth, MN. 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.