Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ellicott City, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ellicott City, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,680 in Ellicott City, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,887 in Ellicott City, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,095 in Ellicott City, MD, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than Ellicott City, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Ellicott City, MD sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Ellicott City, MD by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.02 $20.02

24.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$89.5 $89.5

32.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$9.86 $9.86

39.55%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.98 $4.98

17.47%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.23 $3.23

-5.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.57 $2.57

-7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.13 $6.13

29.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.79 $7.79

0.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.14 $1.14

21.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.62 $3.62

34.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.60 $4.60

12.61%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.35 $4.35

53.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$17.93 $17.93

40.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$9.84 $9.84

61.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$15.93 $15.93

26.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.72 $6.72

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$7.12 $7.12

-23.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.41 $5.41

17.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.69 $2.69

14.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.03 $3.03

25.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.48 $2.48

12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.73 $2.73

-4.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$8.03 $8.03

42.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.28 $15.28

2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.35 $2.35

27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.74 $3.74

13.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.03 $2.03

32.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.84 $1.84

45.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.35 $1.35

25.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$24.33 $24.33

21.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

29.37%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.3K $24.3K

9.06%

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

$261 $261

$175 $175

49.22%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$53.4 $53.4

13.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$78.5 $78.5

-3.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$43.79 $43.79

79.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$15.41 $15.41

2.66%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,281 $1,281

72.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$33.5K $33.5K

-11.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$48.45 $48.45

44.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$48.25 $48.25

7.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$84.9 $84.9

37.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$112 $112

23.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,600 $1,600

45.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,375 $1,375

36.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,609 $2,609

81.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,187 $2,187

63.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,919 $2,919

162.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,418 $2,418

108.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,944 $4,944

31.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ellicott City, MD: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,600 in Ellicott City, MD. 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 32% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $89.0 in Ellicott City, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $447 – making Ellicott City, MD 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 Ellicott City, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,021 in Ellicott City, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ellicott City, MD, 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,680 in Ellicott City, MD. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,281 in Ellicott City, MD. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,680 in Ellicott City, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Ellicott City, MD – 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 Ellicott City, MD. 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.