Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ellensburg, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Ellensburg, WA: $2,404 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
117

Cost of Living Index in Ellensburg, WA
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Ellensburg, WA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Ellensburg, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,404

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Ellensburg, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Ellensburg, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,404 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Ellensburg, WA $2,404

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,555 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Ellensburg, WA $3,555

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,705 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Ellensburg, WA $4,705

Seattle, WA costs about 57% more than Ellensburg, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Ellensburg, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Ellensburg, WA by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$15.25 $15.25

65.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.2 $75.2

34.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$12.13 $12.13

21.68%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.04 $5.04

28.97%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$1.54 $1.54

108.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.26 $1.26

149.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.87 $4.87

63.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.09 $6.09

33.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.98 $0.98

19.39%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.79 $2.79

89.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.71 $4.71

35.88%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$4.23 $4.23

19.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$15.48 $15.48

20.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$6.66 $6.66

181.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$13.53 $13.53

69.11%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.60 $4.60

31.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.43 $1.43

36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.27 $4.27

29.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.96 $3.96

64.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.51 $1.51

131.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.22 $2.22

48.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.96 $1.96

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.91 $1.91

35.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$9.89 $9.89

26.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.99 $13.99

6.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.86 $1.86

125.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.90 $4.90

18.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.05 $2.05

48.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$57.6 $57.6

84.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$5.09 $5.09

-49.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.76 $1.76

-6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$39.42 $39.42

-23.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.04 $1.04

35.58%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$27.6K $27.6K

33.45%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.3K $27.3K

-2.56%

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

$308 $308

$149 $149

106.20%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$39.60 $39.60

74.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$71.3 $71.3

20.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$40.90 $40.90

86.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.93 $15.93

13.12%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$1,356 $1,356

102.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$21.6K $21.6K

41.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$34.48 $34.48

129.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$34.61 $34.61

56.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$109 $109

16.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$40.10 $40.10

296.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,614 $1,614

55.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,277 $1,277

51.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$2,509 $2,509

103.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,172 $2,172

63.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$4,531 $4,531

62.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$4,418 $4,418

13.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$1,785 $1,785

262.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.5

6.00%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Ellensburg, WA

$1.3K 53.1% 34.1% $661

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Ellensburg, WA

$349 14.5% 36.2% $198

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Ellensburg, WA

$260 10.8% 43.8% $203

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Ellensburg, WA

$267 11.1% 34.4% $140

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Ellensburg, WA

$98 4.1% 47.9% $90

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Ellensburg, WA

$80 3.3% 38.2% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Ellensburg, WA

$73 3% 35.3% $40

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,614 in Ellensburg, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Seattle, WA are about 3.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $75 in Ellensburg, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $349 – making Ellensburg, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Ellensburg, WA

🕒 Local time

15:30 3:30 PM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

18,666

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Ellensburg, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 57% more than Ellensburg, WA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,605 in Ellensburg, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ellensburg, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,614 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Ellensburg, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,746 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,356 in Ellensburg, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,404 in Ellensburg, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Ellensburg, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Ellensburg, WA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.