Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Walton Beach, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Walton Beach, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,130 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,445 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,760 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 67% more than Fort Walton Beach, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fort Walton Beach, FL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Fort Walton Beach, FL by 59%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.79 $24.79
$15.26 $15.26
62.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$86.1 $86.1
38.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.15 $14.15
$10.59 $10.59
33.62%
Cappuccino
$5.71 $5.71
$5.28 $5.28
8.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.81 $2.81
4.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.00 $2.00
26.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 $7.89
$5.03 $5.03
56.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.05 $8.05
$6.46 $6.46
24.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.02 $1.02
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$5.07 $5.07
$2.96 $2.96
71.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$2.34 $2.34
124.36%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$2.64 $2.64
161.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.95 $24.95
$12.03 $12.03
107.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.75 $15.75
$11.59 $11.59
35.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.72 $20.72
$15.38 $15.38
34.72%
Apples (1kg)
$6.19 $6.19
$3.59 $3.59
72.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.74 $1.74
60.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.48 $3.48
58.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.42 $6.42
$3.49 $3.49
83.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.46 $1.46
116.44%
Onion (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$1.98 $1.98
96.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.67 $1.67
61.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.09 $2.09
21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.37 $11.37
$8.22 $8.22
38.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.67 $15.67
$8.27 $8.27
89.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.10 $2.10
36.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 $4.26
$4.36 $4.36
-2.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.97 $1.97
37.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.8 $98.8
$50.7 $50.7
94.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$5.93 $5.93
-56.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.66 $1.66
-1.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.68 $29.68
$44.70 $44.70
-33.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.83 $0.83
37.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$26.7K $26.7K
23.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$25.2K $25.2K
4.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 $264
$149 $149
76.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$43.48 $43.48
41.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5 $75.5
$67.3 $67.3
12.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.0 $78.0
$46.83 $46.83
66.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.28 $40.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.11 $16.11
$13.31 $13.31
21.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,212 $2,212
$813 $813
171.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.0K $29.0K
$23.5K $23.5K
23.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3 $69.3
$30.15 $30.15
129.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8 $53.8
$19.85 $19.85
170.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$98.4 $98.4
21.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$102 $102
39.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,357 $2,357
$1,656 $1,656
42.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,834 $1,834
$1,019 $1,019
80.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,686 $4,686
$2,723 $2,723
72.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,571 $3,571
$2,173 $2,173
64.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,539 $7,539
$4,896 $4,896
53.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,046 $5,046
$5,084 $5,084
-0.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$3,272 $3,272
97.84%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fort Walton Beach, FL: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,656 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. 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 98% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $86.0 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $336 – making Fort Walton Beach, FL 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 Walton Beach, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Seattle, WA and in Fort Walton Beach, FL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA, $2,130 in Fort Walton Beach, FL – roughly 67% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Seattle, WA compared to Fort Walton Beach, FL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,195 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Seattle, WA and Fort Walton Beach, FL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fort Walton Beach, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 62% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA and $86.0 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,130 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Seattle, WA and Fort Walton Beach, FL?
It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,130 in Fort Walton Beach, FL to $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Seattle, WA and Fort Walton Beach, FL?
If budget matters most, go with Fort Walton Beach, FL. 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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