Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Galveston, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Galveston, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,048 in Galveston, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,984 in Galveston, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,921 in Galveston, TX, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 76% more than Galveston, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Galveston, TX sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Galveston, TX by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$13.25 $13.25

87.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$64.7 $64.7

81.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$8.67 $8.67

58.82%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.60 $4.60

24.13%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.86 $2.86

6.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.65 $1.65

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.42 $4.42

77.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$4.10 $4.10

92.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.96 $0.96

40.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.52 $2.52

100.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.16 $2.16

149.54%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.69 $2.69

154.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.49 $10.49

138.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.38 $8.38

89.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$13.36 $13.36

54.12%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.11 $4.11

49.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.13 $1.13

149.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.90 $5.90

-6.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.12 $3.12

116.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.95 $1.95

61.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.14 $2.14

78.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.77 $1.77

51.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.53 $1.53

72.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.97 $7.97

46.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$10.94 $10.94

43.42%

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

$1.47 $1.47

188.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$7.44 $7.44

-65.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.87 $1.87

-8.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.73 $28.73

5.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.72 $0.72

65.28%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

7.27%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.27%

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

$263 $263

$190 $190

37.82%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.86 $43.86

38.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$63.7 $63.7

19.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$24.76 $24.76

221.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$10.92 $10.92

48.99%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,187 $1,187

92.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$18.2K $18.2K

61.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$39.83 $39.83

72.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$37.64 $37.64

38.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$71.1 $71.1

62.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$79.9 $79.9

79.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,451 $1,451

61.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,001 $1,001

86.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,636 $2,636

75.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,685 $1,685

106.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,714 $2,714

186.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,138 $2,138

144.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,034 $4,034

64.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.71

-4.32%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Galveston, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,451 in Galveston, TX. 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 64% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $65.0 in Galveston, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $303 – making Galveston, TX 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 Galveston, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $2,048 in Galveston, TX – roughly 76% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,072 in Galveston, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Galveston, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,048 in Galveston, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,187 in Galveston, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Galveston, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,048, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Galveston, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,048 in Galveston, TX to $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Galveston, TX. 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.