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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,814 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,153 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,491 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 28% more expensive than Gaithersburg, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Gaithersburg, MD 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$19.67 $19.67

26.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$99.2 $99.2

18.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$7.11 $7.11

93.67%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.11 $4.11

38.93%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.36 $2.36

29.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.13 $1.13

121.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.61 $6.61

18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.86 $7.86

0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.93 $0.93

45.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.65 $3.65

38.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.74 $6.74

-20.03%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.30 $6.30

8.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.15 $11.15

124.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$17.33 $17.33

-8.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$22.31 $22.31

-7.71%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.72 $7.72

-20.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.94 $2.94

-4.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$7.55 $7.55

-27.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$8.16 $8.16

-17.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.92 $4.92

-35.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.69 $3.69

3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.77 $2.77

-2.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.96 $1.96

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.12 $8.12

43.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.19 $15.19

3.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.72 $1.72

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.71 $3.71

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.96 $1.96

43.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.55 $4.55

-42.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.33 $1.33

29.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.78 $28.78

5.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.86 $0.86

38.37%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

21.34%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.59%

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

$263 $263

$125 $125

109.61%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.3 $53.3

14.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$53.8 $53.8

41.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$30.41 $30.41

161.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.32 $15.32

6.20%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,179 $1,179

93.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.1K $23.1K

27.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$48.40 $48.40

41.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$19.71 $19.71

163.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$80.7 $80.7

43.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$118 $118

21.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,766 $1,766

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,602 $1,602

16.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,197 $2,197

110.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,426 $2,426

43.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,481 $2,481

213.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,588 $2,588

102.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,231 $5,231

26.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Gaithersburg, MD: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,766 in Gaithersburg, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 26% 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 $99.0 in Gaithersburg, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $515 per month, with Gaithersburg, 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 Gaithersburg, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Gaithersburg, MD differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,814 including rent). Gaithersburg, MD is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 26% 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 $1,766 in Gaithersburg, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,179 in Gaithersburg, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Gaithersburg, MD – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Gaithersburg, 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 Gaithersburg, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.