Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ellsworth, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ellsworth, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,570 in Ellsworth, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,816 in Ellsworth, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,063 in Ellsworth, ME.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 40% more expensive than Ellsworth, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Ellsworth, ME 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.26 $18.26

35.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$111 $111

5.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.22 $12.22

12.68%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.13 $5.13

11.31%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.98 $1.98

54.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.28 $2.28

9.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.08 $4.08

91.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.94 $5.94

32.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.02 $1.02

32.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.54 $3.54

42.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.40 $5.40

-0.19%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.17 $4.17

64.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$16.63 $16.63

50.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$7.94 $7.94

99.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$10.94 $10.94

88.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.32 $3.32

84.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.73 $1.73

63.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.54 $6.54

-15.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.34 $4.34

55.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.22 $2.22

41.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.70 $1.70

124.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.96 $2.96

-9.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.39 $2.39

10.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$12.50 $12.50

-6.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.72 $14.72

6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.87 $1.87

56.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.10 $3.10

36.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.94 $1.94

45.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.02 $2.02

28.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.59 $1.59

8.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.01 $29.01

4.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.91 $0.91

30.77%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$28.8K $28.8K

13.47%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$37.2K $37.2K

-29.76%

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

$263 $263

$166 $166

58.62%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$55.8 $55.8

9.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$49.74 $49.74

52.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.76 $42.76

86.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.52 $14.52

12.05%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,281 $1,281

78.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

23.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$50.2 $50.2

36.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$73.8 $73.8

-29.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$100 $100

15.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$100 $100

42.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,625 $1,625

43.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,330 $1,330

40.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,674 $2,674

73.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,235 $2,235

55.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,621 $2,621

196.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,147 $2,147

143.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

114.00%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ellsworth, ME: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,625 in Ellsworth, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $111 in Ellsworth, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $377 per month, with Ellsworth, ME 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 Ellsworth, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ellsworth, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $3,855 in Ellsworth, ME to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,625 in Ellsworth, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,281 in Ellsworth, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ellsworth, ME – a meal for two runs $111 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ellsworth, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Ellsworth, ME is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Ellsworth, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.