Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hailey, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hailey, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,532 in Hailey, ID, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,684 in Hailey, ID, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,835 in Hailey, ID, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 53% more than Hailey, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Hailey, ID sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Hailey, ID by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$19.92 $19.92

27.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$70.9 $70.9

42.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.92 $11.92

24.16%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.83 $4.83

37.27%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.73 $2.73

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.96 $1.96

51.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.85 $5.85

35.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.08 $6.08

29.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.92 $0.92

32.61%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.62 $3.62

41.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.89 $5.89

4.58%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.00 $3.00

69.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$15.80 $15.80

34.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$10.93 $10.93

68.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$17.07 $17.07

34.97%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.87 $4.87

24.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.83 $1.83

2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.07 $4.07

27.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.99 $4.99

27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.85 $2.85

32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.61 $2.61

26.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.33 $2.33

23.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.42 $2.42

9.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.00 $9.00

54.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.74 $15.74

-4.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.05 $2.05

103.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.21 $3.21

75.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.28 $2.28

30.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.62 $2.62

-1.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.46 $1.46

13.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$23.84 $23.84

23.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.08 $1.08

35.19%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-0.23%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

0.97%

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

$306 $306

$171 $171

79.33%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$60.7 $60.7

15.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$73.1 $73.1

19.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$42.36 $42.36

88.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$24.51 $24.51

41.74%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$8.19 $8.19

117.95%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$962 $962

213.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

32.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$53.3 $53.3

43.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$41.89 $41.89

28.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$89.5 $89.5

40.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$109 $109

49.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,567 $1,567

56.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,322 $1,322

49.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,535 $2,535

92.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,127 $2,127

70.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,802 $2,802

163.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,400 $2,400

108.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.08

6.09%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Hailey, ID: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,567 in Hailey, ID. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $71.0 in Hailey, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $411 – making Hailey, ID 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 Hailey, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA, $2,532 in Hailey, ID – roughly 53% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,798 in Hailey, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hailey, ID, 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 $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,532 in Hailey, ID. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,018 per month in Seattle, WA and $962 in Hailey, ID. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,532 in Hailey, ID. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,532 in Hailey, ID to $3,886 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Hailey, ID. 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.