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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,179 in High Point, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,232 in High Point, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,285 in High Point, NC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 78% more expensive than in High Point, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, High Point, NC 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$22.84 $22.84

9.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$91.6 $91.6

9.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.91 $9.91

51.97%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.34 $5.34

19.29%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.94 $2.94

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.05 $2.05

46.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.88 $4.88

59.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.09 $6.09

34.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.95 $0.95

27.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.98 $3.98

25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.06 $3.06

108.82%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.76 $4.76

7.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$16.18 $16.18

30.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$10.26 $10.26

79.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.42 $17.42

37.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.87 $6.87

-14.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.29 $1.29

45.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.44 $4.44

19.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.82 $5.82

11.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.02 $3.02

21.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.49 $3.49

-3.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.12 $2.12

31.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.22 $2.22

16.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.08 $8.08

72.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$14.91 $14.91

0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.68 $1.68

154.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.07 $3.07

90.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.57 $2.57

13.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$79.6 $79.6

36.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.07 $3.07

-16.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.83 $1.83

-6.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$15.13 $15.13

100.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.94 $0.94

48.94%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.72%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

1.30%

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

$299 $299

$176 $176

70.18%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$50.7 $50.7

36.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$66.4 $66.4

32.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$11.98 $11.98

47.75%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,279 $1,279

136.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$10.1K $10.1K

205.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$39.19 $39.19

97.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$34.32 $34.32

60.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$86.1 $86.1

49.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$110 $110

44.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,167 $1,167

113.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$908 $908

112.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,465 $1,465

224.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,298 $1,298

180.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,894 $1,894

300.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,943 $1,943

162.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,479 $4,479

38.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.04

6.79%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for High Point, NC: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,167 in High Point, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $92.0 in High Point, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $417 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 78% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,179 including rent). High Point, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 39% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,167 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 $92.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,179 in High Point, NC – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,179 in High Point, NC versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in High Point, NC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes High Point, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 78% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.