Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Great Falls, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Great Falls, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,212 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,239 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,494 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,266 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 63% more than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Great Falls, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Great Falls, MT by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$11.70 $11.70

111.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$36.92 $36.92

229.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$14.46 $14.46

-3.04%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.08 $4.08

36.27%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.14 $2.14

42.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.96 $1.96

21.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.96 $6.96

14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$3.72 $3.72

117.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.10 $1.10

25.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.41 $3.41

45.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$6.09 $6.09

-12.15%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.17 $3.17

107.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$14.21 $14.21

75.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$14.11 $14.11

12.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$12.70 $12.70

59.13%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.34 $4.34

42.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.46 $1.46

89.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.90 $4.90

9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.27 $3.27

99.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.87 $1.87

71.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.58 $1.58

137.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.30 $2.30

23.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.83 $2.83

-7.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$7.79 $7.79

50.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$14.92 $14.92

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.74 $1.74

62.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.31 $4.31

-1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.94 $1.94

42.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$30.13 $30.13

224.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.52 $2.52

3.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.59 $1.59

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.71 $29.71

0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$30.1K $30.1K

10.00%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.48%

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

$270 $270

$158 $158

70.86%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$51.7 $51.7

15.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$76.0 $76.0

-2.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$63.2 $63.2

22.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$11.94 $11.94

32.16%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$796 $796

186.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.0K $32.0K

-6.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$65.4 $65.4

6.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$33.09 $33.09

57.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$69.7 $69.7

68.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$101 $101

41.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,450 $1,450

60.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,063 $1,063

78.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,986 $1,986

139.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,822 $1,822

90.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,108 $2,108

265.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,065 $2,065

141.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,570 $3,570

86.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.62

-3.02%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,450 in Great Falls, MT. 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 86% 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 $122 in Seattle, WA versus $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $541 vs $399 – making Great Falls, MT 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 Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 63% more than Great Falls, MT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,407 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,318 in Great Falls, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 36% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Seattle, WA and $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,212 in Great Falls, MT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Great Falls, MT costs $2,212 versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Great Falls, MT. 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.