Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and High Point, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and High Point, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,571 in High Point, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,783 in High Point, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,994 in High Point, NC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 40% more expensive than High Point, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, High Point, NC 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$19.75 $19.75

25.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$74.1 $74.1

58.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.87 $9.87

39.51%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.88 $4.88

17.01%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.16 $2.16

41.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.71 $1.71

46.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.93 $4.93

58.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.15 $6.15

28.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.92 $0.92

46.74%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.15 $4.15

21.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.11 $3.11

73.31%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.66 $3.66

87.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.49 $13.49

85.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.46 $8.46

87.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.20 $16.20

27.10%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.47 $4.47

37.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.45 $1.45

94.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.98 $4.98

10.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.10 $4.10

64.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.41 $2.41

30.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.78 $3.78

1.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.82 $1.82

47.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.24 $2.24

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.67 $7.67

51.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.75 $14.75

6.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.69 $1.69

73.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.13 $3.13

35.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.06 $2.06

36.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$80.3 $80.3

24.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.05 $2.05

26.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$15.07 $15.07

100.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.81 $0.81

46.91%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.4K $29.4K

11.25%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.80%

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

$263 $263

$149 $149

75.60%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$63.5 $63.5

-4.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$74.1 $74.1

2.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.68 $43.68

82.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.17 $15.17

7.25%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$913 $913

149.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$24.3K $24.3K

20.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$51.8 $51.8

32.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.31 $39.31

32.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$74.5 $74.5

55.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$119 $119

20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,598 $1,598

46.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,358 $1,358

37.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,675 $2,675

73.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,227 $2,227

56.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,935 $1,935

301.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,909 $1,909

174.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,425 $4,425

49.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for High Point, NC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,598 in High Point, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 50% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in High Point, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $374 per month, with High Point, NC cheaper across the board.

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 High Point, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and High Point, NC differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,571 including rent). High Point, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 50% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,598 in High Point, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in High Point, NC – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,571 in High Point, NC – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. High Point, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find High Point, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.