Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Federal Way, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Federal Way, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,378 in Federal Way, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,400 in Federal Way, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,423 in Federal Way, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 7% more than Federal Way, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Federal Way, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Federal Way, WA by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$27.13 $27.13

-8.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$69.9 $69.9

68.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.33 $12.33

11.68%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.13 $6.13

-6.85%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.99 $2.99

2.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.23 $2.23

12.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.08 $7.08

10.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.86 $5.86

34.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.11 $1.11

21.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.70 $3.70

36.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.14 $4.14

30.19%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.88 $4.88

40.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.48 $13.48

85.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.35 $10.35

53.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.26 $17.26

19.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.04 $5.04

21.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.57 $1.57

79.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.20 $4.20

31.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.06 $5.06

33.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.95 $2.95

6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.67 $2.67

43.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.93 $2.93

-9.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$12.26 $12.26

-4.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$18.44 $18.44

-14.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.71 $1.71

71.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.07 $5.07

-16.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.54 $2.54

11.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.55 $2.55

1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.95 $1.95

-11.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.94 $29.94

0.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.12 $1.12

6.25%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.4K $35.4K

-7.47%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.72%

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

$263 $263

$126 $126

107.83%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$70.3 $70.3

-13.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$86.6 $86.6

-12.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$12.92 $12.92

515.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$11.13 $11.13

46.18%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,441 $1,441

58.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$31.8K $31.8K

-7.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$52.1 $52.1

31.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$44.79 $44.79

16.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.7 $86.7

33.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$97.4 $97.4

47.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,976 $1,976

18.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$2,053 $2,053

-9.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,749 $2,749

68.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,414 $2,414

43.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,368 $4,368

51.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Federal Way, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,976 in Federal Way, WA. 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 51% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $70.0 in Federal Way, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $418 – making Federal Way, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Federal Way, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 7%, 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 $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $5,066 in Federal Way, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $3,378 in Federal Way, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,441 in Federal Way, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $3,378 in Federal Way, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Federal Way, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Federal Way, WA. 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.