Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fond du Lac, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fond du Lac, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,529 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $4,654 in Fond du Lac, WI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 47% more expensive than Fond du Lac, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Fond du Lac, WI 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$12.99 $12.99

94.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$68.8 $68.8

74.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$8.09 $8.09

70.46%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.11 $4.11

36.50%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.91 $2.91

3.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.37 $2.37

5.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.02 $4.02

95.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$5.56 $5.56

42.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.82 $0.82

65.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.75 $2.75

76.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.26 $3.26

62.88%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.11 $3.11

112.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$16.39 $16.39

49.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$11.44 $11.44

40.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$11.47 $11.47

79.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$4.51 $4.51

35.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.65 $1.65

74.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.03 $3.03

83.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.10 $6.10

10.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$4.69 $4.69

-31.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.50 $2.50

51.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$0.97 $0.97

180.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.77 $1.77

48.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$10.79 $10.79

8.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$8.44 $8.44

87.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.69 $1.69

68.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.29 $3.29

33.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.48 $3.48

-24.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.36 $1.36

21.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$20.19 $20.19

47.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.87 $0.87

31.03%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

31.75%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.99%

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

$264 $264

$102 $102

158.99%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$37.26 $37.26

62.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$50.7 $50.7

50.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.64 $43.64

78.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$11.14 $11.14

45.33%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,346 $1,346

67.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

27.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$44.74 $44.74

57.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$46.94 $46.94

10.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$67.9 $67.9

75.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$223 $223

-36.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,600 $1,600

48.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,367 $1,367

38.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,660 $2,660

78.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,211 $2,211

62.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$1,777 $1,777

341.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,815 $1,815

187.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$2,980 $2,980

116.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Fond du Lac, WI: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,600 in Fond du Lac, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 116% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $69 in Fond du Lac, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $353 per month, with Fond du Lac, WI 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 Fond du Lac, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Fond du Lac, WI differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($3,539 vs $2,404 including rent). Fond du Lac, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 116% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,600 in Fond du Lac, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,253 in Seattle, WA versus $1,346 in Fond du Lac, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Fond du Lac, WI – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,404 in Fond du Lac, WI versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Fond du Lac, WI but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Fond du Lac, WI 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Fond du Lac, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Fond du Lac, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.