Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Worth, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fort Worth, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,791 in Fort Worth, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,105 in Fort Worth, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,419 in Fort Worth, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than in Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Fort Worth, TX 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$19.70 $19.70

26.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$55.0 $55.0

81.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.03 $12.03

25.19%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.18 $6.18

3.07%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.90 $2.90

6.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.34 $2.34

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.63 $5.63

38.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.17 $8.17

0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.88 $0.88

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.87 $3.87

28.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.07 $5.07

26.04%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$3.77 $3.77

35.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$10.87 $10.87

93.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.07 $15.07

21.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$20.02 $20.02

20.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.42 $6.42

-8.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.58 $2.58

-27.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.19 $5.19

1.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.62 $4.62

40.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.63 $2.63

39.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.31 $3.31

1.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.33 $2.33

19.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.49 $2.49

3.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.54 $9.54

45.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$20.82 $20.82

-28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.10 $2.10

103.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.32 $3.32

76.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.06 $2.06

41.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$77.0 $77.0

41.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.97 $2.97

-13.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.78 $1.78

-3.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$23.67 $23.67

28.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.89 $0.89

57.30%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.44%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.39%

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

$299 $299

$210 $210

42.37%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$93.3 $93.3

-25.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$82.3 $82.3

6.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$56.3 $56.3

42.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$20.27 $20.27

72.32%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.91 $15.91

11.25%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,931 $1,931

56.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$28.4K $28.4K

9.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$59.9 $59.9

29.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$49.48 $49.48

11.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$126 $126

2.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$129 $129

23.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,624 $1,624

53.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,314 $1,314

46.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,790 $2,790

70.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,247 $2,247

62.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$4,160 $4,160

82.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,861 $1,861

174.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,403 $4,403

41.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fort Worth, TX: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,624 in Fort Worth, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 41% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $55.0 in Fort Worth, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $455 per month, with Fort Worth, TX 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 Worth, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Fort Worth, TX differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,791 including rent). Fort Worth, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 41% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,624 in Fort Worth, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,931 in Fort Worth, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Fort Worth, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Fort Worth, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.