Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Atkinson, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Atkinson, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,290 in Fort Atkinson, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,337 in Fort Atkinson, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,384 in Fort Atkinson, WI, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 67% more than Fort Atkinson, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fort Atkinson, WI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Fort Atkinson, WI by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$13.88 $13.88

77.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$76.5 $76.5

29.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.14 $12.14

24.30%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.20 $5.20

27.31%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.03 $3.03

3.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.31 $2.31

29.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.95 $5.95

36.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.73 $8.73

-10.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.75 $0.75

56.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.22 $2.22

134.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.97 $2.97

115.49%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.52 $3.52

39.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$7.82 $7.82

174.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$11.09 $11.09

67.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$10.32 $10.32

123.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.61 $5.61

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.71 $1.71

9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.56 $3.56

51.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.62 $4.62

36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.90 $2.90

31.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.24 $3.24

0.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.98 $1.98

44.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.04 $2.04

32.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.87 $11.87

19.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$8.09 $8.09

86.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.77 $1.77

146.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.38 $3.38

70.12%

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

$2.60 $2.60

-1.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.58 $1.58

4.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$30.33 $30.33

-1.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.89 $0.89

55.06%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.1K $35.1K

3.87%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

-1.47%

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

$296 $296

$176 $176

68.18%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$50.4 $50.4

41.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$52.2 $52.2

68.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$42.92 $42.92

89.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$8.12 $8.12

125.74%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,221 $1,221

151.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$22.7K $22.7K

34.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$19.79 $19.79

288.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$15.04 $15.04

258.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$44.83 $44.83

184.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$64.7 $64.7

155.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,594 $1,594

51.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,317 $1,317

46.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,532 $2,532

87.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,144 $2,144

67.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,156 $3,156

134.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,664 $2,664

89.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.16

4.22%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Fort Atkinson, WI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,594 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $76.0 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $321 – making Fort Atkinson, WI 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 Fort Atkinson, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 67% more than Fort Atkinson, WI, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,435 in Fort Atkinson, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fort Atkinson, WI, 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 $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $2,290 in Fort Atkinson, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,067 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,221 in Fort Atkinson, WI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $2,290 in Fort Atkinson, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fort Atkinson, WI costs $2,290 versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Fort Atkinson, WI. 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.