Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fairborn, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fairborn, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,497 in Fairborn, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,583 in Fairborn, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,669 in Fairborn, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 44% more expensive than in Fairborn, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Fairborn, OH 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$16.80 $16.80

47.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$60.6 $60.6

100.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.10 $10.10

38.81%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.17 $4.17

33.33%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.80 $2.80

8.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.79 $1.79

33.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.84 $5.84

35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.18 $8.18

-1.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.73 $0.73

89.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.46 $2.46

101.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.80 $3.80

40.79%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.53 $3.53

86.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$9.14 $9.14

172.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.97 $10.97

45.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$14.41 $14.41

40.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.94 $4.94

24.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.30 $1.30

112.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.61 $5.61

-4.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.43 $4.43

47.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.24 $2.24

43.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.59 $2.59

44.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.75 $1.75

62.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.11 $2.11

24.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.37 $9.37

24.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$19.10 $19.10

-19.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.72 $1.72

64.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.19 $2.19

94.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.03 $2.03

28.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.66 $1.66

-0.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$34.39 $34.39

-13.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.2K $29.2K

13.36%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.73%

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

$270 $270

$203 $203

33.00%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$45.96 $45.96

29.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$73.5 $73.5

1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$43.33 $43.33

79.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$14.28 $14.28

10.50%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$560 $560

306.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$5,050 $5,050

491.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$48.09 $48.09

45.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$41.69 $41.69

25.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$74.4 $74.4

57.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$105 $105

36.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,625 $1,625

43.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,349 $1,349

40.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,646 $2,646

79.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,250 $2,250

54.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$3,090 $3,090

149.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,356 $2,356

111.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$4,034 $4,034

64.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Fairborn, OH: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,625 in Fairborn, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 65% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $61.0 in Fairborn, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $359 per month, with Fairborn, OH 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 Fairborn, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Fairborn, OH differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($3,604 vs $2,497 including rent). Fairborn, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 65% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,625 in Fairborn, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $560 in Fairborn, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fairborn, OH – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Fairborn, OH is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Fairborn, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.