Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Durham, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Durham, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,518 in Durham, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,758 in Durham, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,997 in Durham, NC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 54% more expensive than in Durham, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Durham, NC 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$15.35 $15.35

62.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$73.9 $73.9

35.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.02 $10.02

50.30%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.86 $4.86

31.07%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.69 $2.69

14.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.17 $2.17

38.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.08 $6.08

28.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.08 $7.08

15.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.94 $0.94

28.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.98 $3.98

25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.29 $3.29

94.22%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.23 $4.23

21.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$16.68 $16.68

26.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.01 $16.01

14.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.82 $17.82

34.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.41 $5.41

8.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.45 $1.45

29.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.56 $4.56

16.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.54 $4.54

42.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.86 $3.86

-4.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.04 $3.04

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.97 $1.97

41.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.05 $2.05

25.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$7.97 $7.97

74.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.17 $15.17

-1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.49 $1.49

187.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.65 $3.65

60.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.51 $1.51

93.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$25.10 $25.10

333.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.96 $1.96

31.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.81 $1.81

-4.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$30.46 $30.46

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.95 $0.95

47.37%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

1.70%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.69%

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

$299 $299

$171 $171

75.22%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$67.0 $67.0

3.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$69.9 $69.9

25.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$47.26 $47.26

69.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.14 $14.14

25.18%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,455 $1,455

107.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

23.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$51.4 $51.4

50.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$36.90 $36.90

49.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$95.5 $95.5

34.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$136 $136

17.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,708 $1,708

45.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,236 $1,236

56.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,622 $2,622

81.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,257 $2,257

61.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,738 $2,738

177.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,751 $2,751

85.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,617 $4,617

34.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Durham, NC: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,708 in Durham, NC. 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Durham, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $435 per month, with Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Durham, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durham, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,708 in Durham, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Durham, NC runs roughly 334% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,455 in Durham, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Durham, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Durham, NC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,518 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Durham, NC hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.