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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,502 in Fairborn, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,596 in Fairborn, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,689 in Fairborn, OH.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Fairborn, OH 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$16.36 $16.36

51.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$60.1 $60.1

95.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.96 $9.96

38.25%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.23 $4.23

34.99%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.89 $2.89

5.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.69 $1.69

47.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.87 $5.87

33.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.85 $7.85

0.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.75 $0.75

80.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.49 $2.49

103.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.64 $3.64

48.08%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.36 $3.36

103.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$8.98 $8.98

179.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.99 $10.99

44.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.60 $14.60

41.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.96 $4.96

23.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.30 $1.30

116.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.68 $5.68

-2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.46 $4.46

51.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.26 $2.26

39.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.67 $2.67

43.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.78 $1.78

51.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.05 $2.05

28.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.47 $9.47

23.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$18.89 $18.89

-16.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.78 $1.78

64.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.18 $2.18

94.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.03 $2.03

38.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.97 $1.97

31.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.66 $1.66

3.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$33.59 $33.59

-10.03%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

11.56%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.59%

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

$263 $263

$204 $204

28.56%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$45.36 $45.36

34.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$73.4 $73.4

3.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.77 $42.77

86.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.91 $13.91

16.97%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$560 $560

307.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$4,972 $4,972

489.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$47.32 $47.32

44.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.91 $40.91

27.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$74.5 $74.5

55.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$107 $107

34.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,595 $1,595

46.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,374 $1,374

35.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,651 $2,651

74.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,215 $2,215

56.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,814 $2,814

175.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,120 $2,120

146.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,038 $4,038

63.86%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Fairborn, OH: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,595 in Fairborn, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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 $60.0 in Fairborn, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 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 ($3,598 vs $2,502 including rent). Fairborn, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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 $1,595 in Fairborn, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 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 $60.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,502 in Fairborn, OH versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Fairborn, OH but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Fairborn, OH 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 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.