Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hampton, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Hampton, VA: $3,311 a month against $3,800 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,800
/mo nomad
Hampton, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,311
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Hampton, VA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Hampton, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,800 in Seattle, WA versus $3,311 in Hampton, VA.

  • Seattle, WA $3,800
  • Hampton, VA $3,311

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,702 in Seattle, WA versus $5,036 in Hampton, VA.

  • Seattle, WA $5,702
  • Hampton, VA $5,036

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,603 in Seattle, WA versus $6,762 in Hampton, VA.

  • Seattle, WA $7,603
  • Hampton, VA $6,762

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 15% more expensive than in Hampton, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Hampton, VA 145% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.32 $25.32
$19.97 $19.97
26.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$75.4 $75.4
34.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.85 $14.85
$12.07 $12.07
23.03%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
$4.58 $4.58
43.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$3.41 $3.41
-5.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.42 $2.42
29.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 $8.18
$6.59 $6.59
24.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$9.02 $9.02
-10.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.54 $1.54
-21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$5.12 $5.12
$5.23 $5.23
-2.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.30 $6.30
$7.27 $7.27
-13.34%
Eggs
$4.90 $4.90
$5.69 $5.69
-13.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.10 $19.10
$8.13 $8.13
134.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.50 $18.50
$26.17 $26.17
-29.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.03 $23.03
$20.14 $20.14
14.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$13.36 $13.36
-56.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.55 $2.55
-23.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$9.92 $9.92
-46.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$9.97 $9.97
-35.01%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$7.10 $7.10
-49.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$6.81 $6.81
-53.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 $2.85
$3.50 $3.50
-18.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$5.21 $5.21
-53.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.75 $12.75
$10.71 $10.71
19.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.99 $14.99
$14.29 $14.29
4.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.17 $4.17
$1.78 $1.78
134.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99 $5.99
$3.81 $3.81
57.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.81 $3.81
-20.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 $110
$55.8 $55.8
97.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$5.13 $5.13
-50.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.89 $1.89
-13.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.58 $29.58
$20.37 $20.37
45.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$0.98 $0.98
44.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$36.6K $36.6K
-2.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$24.8K $24.8K
2.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 $299
$217 $217
37.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.8 $70.8
$53.3 $53.3
32.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.3 $88.3
$78.3 $78.3
12.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.5 $79.5
$112 $112
-28.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37 $35.37
$35.18 $35.18
0.54%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12 $17.12
$17.89 $17.89
-4.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,013 $3,013
$1,359 $1,359
121.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.6K $31.6K
$15.0K $15.0K
110.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2 $77.2
$47.00 $47.00
64.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 $55.1
$49.15 $49.15
12.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$136 $136
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 $163
$133 $133
21.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,464 $2,464
$1,626 $1,626
51.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,956 $1,956
$1,576 $1,576
24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,711 $4,711
$2,908 $2,908
62.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,550 $3,550
$2,912 $2,912
21.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,346 $7,346
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,048 $5,048
$2,315 $2,315
118.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Hampton, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,286 $6,286
$3,665 $3,665
71.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
6.1
12.30%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 13, 2026

Last update for Hampton, VA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$2K
Hampton, VA
$1.6K 19.4% $380
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$542
Hampton, VA
$663 22.5% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$458
Hampton, VA
$349 23.8% $109
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$409
Hampton, VA
$325 20.4% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$189
Hampton, VA
$164 13.2% $25
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$133
Hampton, VA
$86 35.6% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$114
Hampton, VA
$147 29.5% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,464 in Seattle, WA and $1,626 in Hampton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 72% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Hampton, VA. Groceries flip the comparison at $542 vs $663, with Seattle, WA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 Hampton, VA
🕒 Local time
13:30 1:30 PM
16:30 4:30 PM
3 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
137,436
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Hampton, VA 3,900 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Hampton, VA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hampton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hampton, VA cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Hampton, VA is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and utilities. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Seattle, WA or Hampton, VA?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and Hampton, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,464 in Seattle, WA versus $1,626 in Hampton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Seattle, WA and in Hampton, VA?
All in, you'll spend $3,800 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,311 in Hampton, VA – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Hampton, VA runs roughly 97% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Seattle, WA or in Hampton, VA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Hampton, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Seattle, WA or Hampton, VA more family-friendly?
For families, Hampton, VA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hampton, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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