Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Scott, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Scott, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,460 in Fort Scott, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,506 in Fort Scott, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,552 in Fort Scott, KS, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 49% more than Fort Scott, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fort Scott, KS sit above the global median โ€“ Seattle, WA by 173%, Fort Scott, KS by 84%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.32 $25.32
$14.76 $14.76
71.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 $121
$50.3 $50.3
141.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.11 $14.11
$8.72 $8.72
61.81%
Cappuccino
$5.82 $5.82
$4.12 $4.12
41.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.19 $2.19
36.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$1.89 $1.89
26.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.73 $7.73
$4.12 $4.12
87.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$6.03 $6.03
30.51%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.97 $0.97
38.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.99 $2.99
64.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$2.03 $2.03
153.20%
Eggs
$6.57 $6.57
$3.39 $3.39
93.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.64 $24.64
$9.08 $9.08
171.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.88 $15.88
$9.33 $9.33
70.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.14 $20.14
$14.63 $14.63
37.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.27 $6.27
$4.41 $4.41
42.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.24 $1.24
130.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$3.22 $3.22
64.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.39 $6.39
$4.07 $4.07
57.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$1.60 $1.60
100.62%
Onion (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.54 $2.54
50.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.00 $2.00
37.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.88 $1.88
37.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$6.96 $6.96
67.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.77 $15.77
$11.95 $11.95
31.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.72 $1.72
67.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.60 $3.60
21.94%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.99 $1.99
38.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.8 $98.8
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.95 $2.95
-9.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.22 $1.22
39.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.74 $29.74
$36.21 $36.21
-17.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.81 $0.81
40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K $32.9K
$30.5K $30.5K
7.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.6K $26.6K
-2.48%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$268 $268
$234 $234
14.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.9 $60.9
$68.1 $68.1
-10.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2 $76.2
$74.2 $74.2
2.70%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.1 $78.1
$42.74 $42.74
82.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.15 $40.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.82 $15.82
$7.93 $7.93
99.50%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,252 $2,252
$780 $780
188.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.7K $29.7K
$23.3K $23.3K
27.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 $70.8
$51.9 $51.9
36.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 $53.1
$33.62 $33.62
58.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$70.2 $70.2
66.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$104 $104
33.07%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,310 $2,310
$1,612 $1,612
43.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 $1,849
$1,327 $1,327
39.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,739 $4,739
$2,617 $2,617
81.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,556 $3,556
$2,222 $2,222
60.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,775 $7,775
$2,975 $2,975
161.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,351 $5,351
$2,088 $2,088
156.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Fort Scott, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,575 $6,575
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.65
-3.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Fort Scott, KS: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,612 in Fort Scott, KS. 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $50 in Fort Scott, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $322 โ€“ making Fort Scott, KS 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 Scott, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seattle, WA or Fort Scott, KS?
Seattle, WA costs about 49% more than Fort Scott, KS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Seattle, WA vs Fort Scott, KS?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,690 in Fort Scott, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seattle, WA or Fort Scott, KS?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fort Scott, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Seattle, WA compared to Fort Scott, KS?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,460 in Fort Scott, KS. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Seattle, WA and Fort Scott, KS?
Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $780 in Fort Scott, KS. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seattle, WA or Fort Scott, KS?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fort Scott, KS, where all-in costs run around $2,460, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Fort Scott, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Seattle, WA or Fort Scott, KS?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fort Scott, KS costs $2,460 versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Seattle, WA or Fort Scott, KS?
If budget matters most, go with Fort Scott, KS. 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.

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