Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Durango, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Durango, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,062 in Durango, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,200 in Durango, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,337 in Durango, CO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 18% more expensive than Durango, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Durango, CO 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$15.12 $15.12

64.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$59.9 $59.9

96.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$7.87 $7.87

74.97%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.27 $5.27

8.35%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.88 $2.88

5.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.85 $1.85

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.14 $6.14

27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.17 $7.17

9.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.05 $1.05

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.89 $2.89

75.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.29 $3.29

63.83%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.38 $4.38

56.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.62 $12.62

98.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.13 $10.13

56.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$20.53 $20.53

0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.94 $4.94

24.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.39 $1.39

102.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.85 $3.85

43.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.58 $4.58

47.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.40 $2.40

31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.54 $2.54

50.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.03 $2.03

32.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.23 $2.23

18.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.11 $10.11

15.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$9.61 $9.61

63.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.80 $1.80

62.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.77 $2.77

53.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$30.06 $30.06

233.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.43 $3.43

-24.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.79 $1.79

-3.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.02 $29.02

4.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.79 $0.79

50.63%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

10.87%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.30%

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

$263 $263

$178 $178

47.59%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.2 $53.2

14.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$67.3 $67.3

12.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$18.41 $18.41

332.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.40 $13.40

21.42%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,235 $1,235

84.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$6,052 $6,052

384.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$53.6 $53.6

27.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$50.2 $50.2

3.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$69.9 $69.9

65.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,329 $2,329

0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,949 $1,949

-4.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,384 $3,384

36.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,688 $2,688

29.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$4,844 $4,844

60.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$4,916 $4,916

6.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,744 $4,744

39.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.36

0.94%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Durango, CO: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,329 in Durango, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $60.0 in Durango, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $372 per month, with Durango, CO 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 Durango, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Durango, CO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,329 in Durango, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Durango, CO runs roughly 233% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,235 in Durango, CO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Durango, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Durango, CO is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Durango, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Durango, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.