Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hamilton, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hamilton, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,572 in Hamilton, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,430 in Hamilton, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,288 in Hamilton, MT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 42% more than Hamilton, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Hamilton, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Hamilton, MT by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$19.21 $19.21

31.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$75.6 $75.6

60.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.79 $10.79

30.77%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.11 $5.11

13.89%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.48 $2.48

20.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.96 $1.96

22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.14 $6.14

25.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.94 $6.94

13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.01 $1.01

32.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.48 $3.48

41.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.41 $4.41

16.55%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.23 $4.23

55.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.35 $12.35

99.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.70 $11.70

35.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.27 $15.27

31.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.11 $6.11

2.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.33 $1.33

115.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.30 $4.30

23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.67 $4.67

36.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.90 $2.90

10.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.77 $2.77

38.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.08 $2.08

31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.21 $2.21

16.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.56 $9.56

21.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.15 $15.15

4.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.86 $1.86

54.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.28 $3.28

33.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.06 $2.06

33.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.43 $3.43

-22.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.60 $1.60

6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.46 $29.46

0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.7K $29.7K

10.67%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.38%

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

$268 $268

$201 $201

33.12%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.9 $51.9

17.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$77.2 $77.2

-1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.46 $42.46

83.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.37 $13.37

18.32%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,308 $1,308

72.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$51.4 $51.4

37.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.12 $40.12

32.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.9 $85.9

36.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$113 $113

22.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$915 $915

152.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,371 $1,371

34.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$1,981 $1,981

139.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,526 $1,526

132.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,242 $2,242

246.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,359 $2,359

126.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,603 $3,603

82.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Hamilton, MT: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $915 in Hamilton, 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 82% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $76 in Hamilton, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $395 – making Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA, $2,572 in Hamilton, MT – roughly 42% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,858 in Hamilton, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hamilton, MT, 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 $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,572 in Hamilton, MT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,308 in Hamilton, MT. 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 Hamilton, MT, where all-in costs run around $2,572, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Hamilton, MT 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 $2,572 in Hamilton, MT to $3,661 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 Hamilton, 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.