Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fairfax, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fairfax, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,479 in Fairfax, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,930 in Fairfax, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $6,380 in Fairfax, VA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 12% more expensive than in Fairfax, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Fairfax, VA 154% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$18.73 $18.73

33.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$95.0 $95.0

5.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.90 $11.90

26.55%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.10 $6.10

4.43%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.24 $3.24

-4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.70 $2.70

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.81 $6.81

14.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.18 $8.18

0.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.12 $1.12

8.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.18 $4.18

19.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.33 $5.33

19.89%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.32 $5.32

-3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$16.73 $16.73

25.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$14.86 $14.86

23.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.11 $19.11

25.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.95 $5.95

-1.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.29 $2.29

-17.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.63 $5.63

-6.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.65 $5.65

14.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.76 $2.76

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.90 $3.90

-13.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.49 $2.49

12.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.69 $2.69

-4.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$13.83 $13.83

0.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.31 $15.31

-2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.53 $2.53

69.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.74 $4.74

23.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$5.14 $5.14

-43.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$68.9 $68.9

57.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.04 $3.04

-15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.43 $1.43

20.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$24.34 $24.34

24.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.99 $0.99

41.41%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.79%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

0.04%

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

$299 $299

$207 $207

44.74%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$66.0 $66.0

5.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$78.2 $78.2

12.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$74.2 $74.2

8.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$25.18 $25.18

38.72%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$18.21 $18.21

-2.80%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,958 $1,958

54.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$35.5K $35.5K

-12.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$53.0 $53.0

45.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$54.5 $54.5

1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$91.8 $91.8

39.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$112 $112

42.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,325 $2,325

7.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,882 $1,882

2.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,586 $3,586

32.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,879 $2,879

26.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$5,541 $5,541

36.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$4,113 $4,113

24.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$5,797 $5,797

7.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.26

3.04%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fairfax, VA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,325 in Fairfax, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 7% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $95.0 in Fairfax, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $483 per month, with Fairfax, VA 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 Fairfax, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fairfax, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fairfax, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 7% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $2,325 in Fairfax, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Fairfax, VA – a meal for two runs $95.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Fairfax, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Fairfax, VA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,479 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fairfax, VA hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Fairfax, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.