Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fairbanks, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fairbanks, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,011 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,383 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,756 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 27% more than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fairbanks, AK sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Fairbanks, AK by 119%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$25.10 $25.10

-1.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$100 $100

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$15.22 $15.22

-0.85%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$6.22 $6.22

6.43%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.78 $2.78

12.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.96 $1.96

52.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.09 $7.09

14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$10.14 $10.14

-22.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.16 $1.16

0.86%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.43 $5.43

-4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.86 $4.86

31.69%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.27 $4.27

14.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$22.35 $22.35

-3.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.00 $9.00

106.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$20.60 $20.60

11.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$7.68 $7.68

-24.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.06 $2.06

-8.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.92 $5.92

-9.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.47 $6.47

-2.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.65 $3.65

4.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.61 $3.61

-9.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.88 $2.88

-0.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.03 $2.03

33.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.91 $11.91

18.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$11.99 $11.99

25.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.71 $1.71

154.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.48 $1.48

106.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$39.60 $39.60

177.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.57 $3.57

-28.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.13 $2.13

-22.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$44.14 $44.14

-32.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.27 $1.27

8.66%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

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

$25.1K $25.1K

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

$296 $296

$208 $208

42.06%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$61.3 $61.3

16.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$142 $142

-38.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$98.7 $98.7

-17.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$18.17 $18.17

0.88%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,821 $1,821

68.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$60.8 $60.8

26.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$39.70 $39.70

35.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$119 $119

7.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$121 $121

36.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,569 $1,569

54.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,397 $1,397

38.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,620 $2,620

81.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,191 $2,191

63.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,003 $2,003

269.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,019 $2,019

150.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,932 $3,932

60.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.27

2.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,569 in Fairbanks, AK. 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 61% 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 $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $100 in Fairbanks, AK. Groceries tell a different story – $554 in Seattle, WA vs $470 in Fairbanks, AK – so Fairbanks, AK wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Fairbanks, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,516 in Fairbanks, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fairbanks, AK, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA and $100 in Fairbanks, AK. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $3,011 in Fairbanks, AK. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Fairbanks, AK – 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 Fairbanks, AK. 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.