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: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,077 in Durango, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $4,151 in Durango, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $5,226 in Durango, CO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 15% more expensive than Durango, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Durango, CO 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$15.13 $15.13

66.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$59.9 $59.9

100.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$7.81 $7.81

76.57%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.33 $5.33

5.25%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.82 $2.82

6.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.77 $1.77

41.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.82 $5.82

34.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.82 $6.82

16.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.06 $1.06

28.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.86 $2.86

69.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.26 $3.26

62.88%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.41 $4.41

49.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$12.67 $12.67

93.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$10.46 $10.46

53.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$20.69 $20.69

-0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$4.80 $4.80

27.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.40 $1.40

105.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.71 $3.71

50.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.37 $4.37

54.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.47 $2.47

29.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.43 $2.43

55.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.95 $1.95

39.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.30 $2.30

13.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$9.85 $9.85

18.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$9.45 $9.45

67.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.75 $1.75

62.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.82 $2.82

55.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.94 $1.94

38.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$29.80 $29.80

231.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.51 $3.51

-25.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.86 $1.86

-11.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$28.56 $28.56

4.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$29.4K $29.4K

10.85%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.06%

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

$264 $264

$183 $183

44.36%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$53.1 $53.1

14.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$69.2 $69.2

10.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$19.01 $19.01

310.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$13.52 $13.52

19.75%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,218 $1,218

85.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$5,944 $5,944

400.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$53.4 $53.4

31.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$50.8 $50.8

1.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$70.2 $70.2

69.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$114 $114

24.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$2,382 $2,382

-0.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,923 $1,923

-1.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$3,474 $3,474

36.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,714 $2,714

32.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$4,893 $4,893

60.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$4,964 $4,964

5.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$4,769 $4,769

35.17%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Durango, CO: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $2,382 in Durango, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 35% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $60 in Durango, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 35% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $2,382 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 232% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,253 in Seattle, WA versus $1,218 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 15% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.