Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Elizabethtown, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Elizabethtown, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,326 in Elizabethtown, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $2,919 in Elizabethtown, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $3,513 in Elizabethtown, KY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 57% more expensive than Elizabethtown, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Elizabethtown, KY 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$14.99 $14.99

68.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$49.82 $49.82

143.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$8.15 $8.15

73.13%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.31 $4.31

35.03%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.10 $2.10

41.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.15 $2.15

11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$3.93 $3.93

96.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.45 $4.45

76.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.76 $0.76

76.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.15 $2.15

128.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.05 $2.05

150.73%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$2.82 $2.82

132.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$10.23 $10.23

140.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$9.23 $9.23

72.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.32 $15.32

31.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.11 $4.11

52.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.18 $1.18

142.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.98 $3.98

32.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.04 $5.04

26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.99 $1.99

61.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.02 $3.02

26.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.74 $1.74

57.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.44 $1.44

79.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$6.13 $6.13

89.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.04 $15.04

4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.08 $2.08

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.76 $1.76

149.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.98 $1.98

39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.72 $3.72

-28.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.72 $1.72

-1.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$24.92 $24.92

19.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$34.7K $34.7K

-5.24%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.29%

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

$268 $268

$118 $118

127.52%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$56.2 $56.2

8.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$57.0 $57.0

33.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.40 $42.40

84.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$10.57 $10.57

49.67%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,587 $1,587

41.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$17.7K $17.7K

68.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$25.19 $25.19

180.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.34 $40.34

31.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.4 $85.4

37.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$99.7 $99.7

39.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,060 $1,060

117.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,343 $1,343

37.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,608 $1,608

194.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,337 $1,337

165.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$1,735 $1,735

348.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$1,732 $1,732

208.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,350 $3,350

96.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Elizabethtown, KY: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,060 in Elizabethtown, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 96% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $50 in Elizabethtown, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $320 per month, with Elizabethtown, KY 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 Elizabethtown, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Elizabethtown, KY differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $2,326 including rent). Elizabethtown, KY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 96% 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,060 in Elizabethtown, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,587 in Elizabethtown, KY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Elizabethtown, KY – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,326 in Elizabethtown, KY versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Elizabethtown, KY but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Elizabethtown, KY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Elizabethtown, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.