Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Fredericksburg, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Fredericksburg, VA: $2,513 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Fredericksburg, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,513
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Fredericksburg, VA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Fredericksburg, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,782 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,513 in Fredericksburg, VA, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $3,782
  • Fredericksburg, VA $2,513

A couple spends around $5,636 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,618 in Fredericksburg, VA, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $5,636
  • Fredericksburg, VA $3,618

A family of three spends $7,489 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,723 in Fredericksburg, VA, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $7,489
  • Fredericksburg, VA $4,723

Seattle, WA costs about 51% more than Fredericksburg, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Fredericksburg, VA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Fredericksburg, VA by 85%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.52 $24.52
$25.98 $25.98
-5.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2 $98.2
$80.5 $80.5
22.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$11.40 $11.40
29.74%
Cappuccino
$6.52 $6.52
$5.55 $5.55
17.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.15 $3.15
2.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.40 $2.40
32.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 $7.85
$5.89 $5.89
33.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$9.81 $9.81
-18.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.34 $1.34
-9.70%
White Bread (500g)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.70 $3.70
38.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$1.79 $1.79
237.99%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$3.51 $3.51
39.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.18 $19.18
$8.69 $8.69
120.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$9.46 $9.46
99.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.31 $23.31
$10.89 $10.89
114.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$1.32 $1.32
353.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.21 $1.21
59.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$5.04 $5.04
4.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.57 $6.57
$5.75 $5.75
14.26%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.89 $2.89
25.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.76 $3.76
-11.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.70 $2.70
2.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.73 $2.73
-8.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.18 $12.18
$8.31 $8.31
46.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.83 $14.83
$11.87 $11.87
24.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.70 $1.70
148.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 $5.77
$1.53 $1.53
277.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 $2.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 $106
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.98 $3.98
-33.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.54 $1.54
11.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.72 $29.72
$24.50 $24.50
21.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.97 $0.97
53.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$35.3K $35.3K
1.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$302 $302
$179 $179
69.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$42.82 $42.82
63.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.3 $85.3
$77.3 $77.3
10.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.8 $77.8
$24.71 $24.71
215.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.58 $34.58
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.84 $17.84
$11.73 $11.73
52.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,973 $2,973
$3,186 $3,186
-6.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
$41.3K $41.3K
-24.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6 $76.6
$72.4 $72.4
5.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 $54.1
$43.95 $43.95
22.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 $128
$85.9 $85.9
49.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 $164
$123 $123
32.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,445 $2,445
$1,729 $1,729
41.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,947 $1,947
$1,292 $1,292
50.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,744 $4,744
$3,493 $3,493
35.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 $3,469
$1,991 $1,991
74.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,367 $7,367
$3,268 $3,268
125.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,127 $5,127
$3,203 $3,203
60.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,506 $6,506
$4,631 $4,631
40.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
6.4
7.66%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Fredericksburg, VA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$1.9K
Fredericksburg, VA
$1.3K 33.6% $655
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$546
Fredericksburg, VA
$335 38.5% $210
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$457
Fredericksburg, VA
$299 34.7% $159
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$400
Fredericksburg, VA
$380 5% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$190
Fredericksburg, VA
$147 23% $44
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$129
Fredericksburg, VA
$12 * 91% $118
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$114
Fredericksburg, VA
$48 57.6% $65

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,445 in Seattle, WA versus $1,729 in Fredericksburg, VA. 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 40% 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 $98.0 in Seattle, WA versus $80.0 in Fredericksburg, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $546 vs $335 – making Fredericksburg, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 Fredericksburg, VA
🕒 Local time
09:23 9:23 AM
12:23 12:23 PM
3 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
28,118
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Fredericksburg, VA 3,740 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Fredericksburg, VA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Fredericksburg, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Seattle, WA and in Fredericksburg, VA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,782 in Seattle, WA, $2,513 in Fredericksburg, VA – roughly 51% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Seattle, WA compared to Fredericksburg, VA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,673 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,769 in Fredericksburg, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Seattle, WA and Fredericksburg, VA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fredericksburg, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Seattle, WA and $80.0 in Fredericksburg, VA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 63% 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 is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,782 in Seattle, WA and $2,513 in Fredericksburg, VA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Seattle, WA and Fredericksburg, VA?
It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,513 in Fredericksburg, VA to $3,782 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Seattle, WA and Fredericksburg, VA?
If budget matters most, go with Fredericksburg, VA. 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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