Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Eugene, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Eugene, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,425 in Eugene, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,693 in Eugene, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,961 in Eugene, OR.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 48% more expensive than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Eugene, OR 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.64 $18.64

33.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75.1 $75.1

56.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.15 $10.15

35.67%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.52 $5.52

3.44%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.55 $2.55

19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.07 $2.07

20.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.14 $6.14

27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.06 $8.06

-2.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.00 $1.00

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.88 $3.88

30.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.42 $7.42

-27.36%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.96 $3.96

72.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.07 $14.07

78.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$14.64 $14.64

8.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.21 $19.21

7.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.42 $4.42

38.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.51 $1.51

86.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.83 $3.83

43.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.68 $3.68

83.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.04 $2.04

54.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.05 $2.05

86.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.65 $1.65

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$12.20 $12.20

-4.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.30 $13.30

17.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.71 $1.71

71.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.42 $3.42

23.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.93 $1.93

46.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$44.95 $44.95

122.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.05 $4.05

-35.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.26 $1.26

36.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$30.49 $30.49

-0.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.03 $1.03

15.53%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$33.6K $33.6K

-2.52%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.93%

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

$263 $263

$127 $127

106.96%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.1 $51.1

19.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$58.1 $58.1

30.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$53.6 $53.6

48.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$17.25 $17.25

131.25%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.39 $14.39

13.06%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,489 $1,489

53.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$12.3K $12.3K

137.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$56.3 $56.3

21.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$41.92 $41.92

23.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$104 $104

11.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$109 $109

31.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,276 $1,276

83.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,165 $1,165

59.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,198 $2,198

110.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,154 $2,154

61.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$3,237 $3,237

139.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$3,318 $3,318

57.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,848 $3,848

71.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Eugene, OR: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,276 in Eugene, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 72% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Eugene, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $412 per month, with Eugene, OR 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 Eugene, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Eugene, OR differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,425 including rent). Eugene, OR is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 72% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,276 in Eugene, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,425 in Eugene, OR – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Eugene, OR runs roughly 123% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,425 in Eugene, OR versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Eugene, OR but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Eugene, OR 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 Eugene, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.