Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and El Paso, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and El Paso, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,101 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,174 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,247 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 73% more than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and El Paso, TX sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, El Paso, TX by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$19.28 $19.28

28.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$69.0 $69.0

71.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.85 $11.85

16.29%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$6.59 $6.59

-14.87%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.88 $2.88

0.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.87 $1.87

31.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.87 $4.87

63.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.98 $5.98

37.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.84 $0.84

65.48%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.52 $2.52

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.63 $2.63

96.20%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.72 $3.72

77.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$11.33 $11.33

121.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.20 $11.20

40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$12.32 $12.32

64.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.09 $4.09

52.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.32 $1.32

107.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.23 $4.23

26.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.22 $4.22

53.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.54 $3.54

-12.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.96 $2.96

30.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.20 $2.20

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.58 $1.58

61.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$12.03 $12.03

-5.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$8.08 $8.08

91.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.06 $2.06

37.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.62 $4.62

-8.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.53 $1.53

75.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$48.27 $48.27

102.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.63 $1.63

57.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$27.04 $27.04

11.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.77 $0.77

49.35%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

40.21%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.79%

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

$263 $263

$168 $168

56.88%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$64.7 $64.7

-6.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$71.1 $71.1

4.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$25.34 $25.34

218.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

$7.67 $7.67

434.42%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$11.59 $11.59

37.27%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$581 $581

292.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$7,045 $7,045

323.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$40.66 $40.66

72.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$43.12 $43.12

24.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$95.4 $95.4

24.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$174 $174

-18.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,049 $1,049

120.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$874 $874

109.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$1,685 $1,685

178.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,605 $1,605

117.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$1,796 $1,796

354.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$1,780 $1,780

192.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,260 $3,260

101.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for El Paso, TX: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,049 in El Paso, TX. 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 101% 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 $69.0 in El Paso, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $332 – making El Paso, TX 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 El Paso, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 73% more than El Paso, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,151 in El Paso, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Paso, TX, 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 $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,101 in El Paso, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 103% less in El Paso, TX. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Paso, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,101, than in Seattle, WA at $3,634. In El Paso, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. El Paso, TX costs $2,101 versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with El Paso, TX. 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.