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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,441 in Fairborn, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,536 in Fairborn, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,631 in Fairborn, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 57% more expensive than in Fairborn, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Fairborn, OH 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$14.22 $14.22

73.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$70.3 $70.3

41.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.09 $10.09

49.55%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.20 $4.20

57.62%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.37 $2.37

32.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.93 $1.93

54.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.27 $6.27

29.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.95 $7.95

-1.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.78 $0.78

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.77 $2.77

87.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.75 $3.75

70.67%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.74 $3.74

31.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.26 $12.26

75.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$12.68 $12.68

46.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$16.00 $16.00

44.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.79 $4.79

20.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.51 $1.51

24.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.88 $4.88

10.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.31 $4.31

46.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.42 $2.42

57.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.93 $2.93

11.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.31 $2.31

24.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.51 $2.51

7.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.05 $10.05

40.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.51 $15.51

-2.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.70 $1.70

156.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.65 $3.65

57.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.94 $1.94

57.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.97 $1.97

30.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.73 $1.73

-4.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$33.36 $33.36

-10.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.03 $1.03

33.98%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

1.26%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

-0.81%

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

$296 $296

$207 $207

43.21%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$50.9 $50.9

40.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$58.0 $58.0

51.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.79 $41.79

94.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.38 $13.38

37.00%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$531 $531

477.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$6,532 $6,532

367.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$40.54 $40.54

89.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$45.33 $45.33

19.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$69.1 $69.1

84.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$122 $122

35.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,604 $1,604

50.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,268 $1,268

52.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,506 $2,506

89.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,149 $2,149

66.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,677 $2,677

176.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,666 $2,666

89.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.14

4.56%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Fairborn, OH: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,604 in Fairborn, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $70.0 in Fairborn, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $387 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 57% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,441 including rent). Fairborn, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,754 in Seattle, WA and $3,662 in Fairborn, OH 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,604 in Fairborn, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $531 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 $70.0 versus $99.0 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 57% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.