Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Frederick, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Frederick, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,701 in Frederick, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,990 in Frederick, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,280 in Frederick, MD.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 33% more expensive than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Frederick, MD 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$20.08 $20.08

23.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$81.0 $81.0

45.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.56 $9.56

44.04%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.69 $4.69

21.75%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.77 $2.77

10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.15 $2.15

16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.02 $6.02

30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.80 $6.80

15.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.95 $0.95

42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.20 $3.20

58.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.40 $5.40

-0.19%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.51 $3.51

95.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.60 $12.60

98.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.83 $10.83

46.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.54 $16.54

24.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.84 $7.84

-21.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.82 $1.82

54.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.86 $6.86

-19.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.47 $6.47

4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.49 $3.49

-9.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.80 $2.80

36.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.21 $2.21

21.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.41 $2.41

9.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.78 $10.78

8.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.21 $16.21

-3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.76 $1.76

66.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.10 $5.10

-16.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.07 $4.07

-36.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.22 $1.22

40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.96 $28.96

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.82 $0.82

45.12%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.1K $29.1K

12.48%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.8K $24.8K

5.30%

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

$263 $263

$114 $114

129.73%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$47.59 $47.59

27.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$71.6 $71.6

5.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.14 $43.14

84.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.85 $14.85

9.56%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,760 $1,760

29.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.9K $23.9K

22.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$37.16 $37.16

84.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.01 $40.01

29.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$94.1 $94.1

23.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$97.2 $97.2

47.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,658 $1,658

40.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,485 $1,485

25.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,903 $2,903

59.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,664 $2,664

30.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,490 $2,490

211.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,132 $2,132

145.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,799 $4,799

37.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.32

1.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Frederick, MD: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,658 in Frederick, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 38% 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 Frederick, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $434 per month, with Frederick, MD 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 Frederick, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Frederick, MD differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,701 including rent). Frederick, MD is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 38% 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 $1,658 in Frederick, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,701 in Frederick, MD – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Frederick, MD 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 Frederick, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.