Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Myers, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Myers, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,520 in Fort Myers, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,655 in Fort Myers, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,790 in Fort Myers, FL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 2% more expensive than Fort Myers, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Fort Myers, FL 163% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$20.11 $20.11

23.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$80.8 $80.8

45.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.80 $10.80

27.50%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.39 $4.39

30.07%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.51 $2.51

21.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.99 $1.99

25.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.07 $4.07

92.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.93 $5.93

32.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.11 $1.11

21.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.15 $4.15

21.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.63 $3.63

48.48%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.40 $4.40

55.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.99 $12.99

92.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.65 $11.65

36.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.02 $16.02

28.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.98 $5.98

2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.56 $1.56

80.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.24 $4.24

29.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.82 $4.82

39.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.50 $3.50

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.73 $3.73

2.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.39 $2.39

12.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.58 $2.58

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.17 $8.17

42.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$17.32 $17.32

-9.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.15 $2.15

36.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.45 $3.45

22.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$36.89 $36.89

171.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.47 $2.47

5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.56 $1.56

10.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.85 $29.85

1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.93 $0.93

27.96%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

10.58%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.04%

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

$263 $263

$170 $170

54.47%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$61.8 $61.8

-1.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$67.7 $67.7

12.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$52.6 $52.6

51.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$9.93 $9.93

301.71%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.95 $14.95

8.83%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,319 $1,319

72.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$14.2K $14.2K

106.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$42.32 $42.32

62.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.25 $36.25

43.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$83.3 $83.3

39.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$87.7 $87.7

63.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,915 $1,915

22.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$2,167 $2,167

-14.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,145 $3,145

47.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,800 $2,800

24.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,685 $2,685

189.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,767 $2,767

89.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,885 $3,885

70.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.48

-0.93%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Fort Myers, FL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,915 in Fort Myers, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 70% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Fort Myers, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $421 per month, with Fort Myers, FL 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 Fort Myers, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Myers, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 70% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,915 in Fort Myers, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Myers, FL – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Fort Myers, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Fort Myers, FL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Fort Myers, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.