Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Highlands Ranch, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Highlands Ranch, CO: $3,365 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. The total is higher in Seattle, WA despite lower rent and utilities.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
161

Cost of Living Index in Highlands Ranch, CO
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Highlands Ranch, CO Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,365

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Highlands Ranch, CO

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 Highlands Ranch, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,782 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,782
Highlands Ranch, CO $3,365

A couple spends around $5,636 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,987 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,636
Highlands Ranch, CO $2,987

A family of three spends $7,489 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,609 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,489
Highlands Ranch, CO $2,609

Seattle, WA costs about 12% more than Highlands Ranch, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Highlands Ranch, CO sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Highlands Ranch, CO by 148%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.52 $24.52

$15.27 $15.27

60.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$79.5 $79.5

23.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.79 $14.79

$10.20 $10.20

45.00%

Cappuccino

$6.52 $6.52

$6.26 $6.26

4.15%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$2.48 $2.48

30.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.13 $2.13

48.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.06 $5.06

55.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$6.15 $6.15

30.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.04 $1.04

16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.89 $2.89

77.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$2.80 $2.80

116.07%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$4.28 $4.28

14.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.18 $19.18

$10.81 $10.81

77.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.91 $18.91

$7.20 $7.20

162.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.31 $23.31

$19.01 $19.01

22.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 $5.99

$4.04 $4.04

48.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.50 $1.50

28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.86 $4.86

8.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$5.26 $5.26

24.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.61 $3.61

0.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.58 $4.58

-27.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.22 $2.22

25.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.71 $1.71

46.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$10.41 $10.41

17.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$16.42 $16.42

-9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.22 $4.22

$2.50 $2.50

68.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.61 $2.61

121.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.48 $2.48

6.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.89 $1.89

-8.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$25.39 $25.39

17.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.02 $1.02

46.08%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$28.0K $28.0K

28.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.15%

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

$302 $302

$215 $215

40.53%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$56.8 $56.8

23.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.3 $85.3

$68.8 $68.8

23.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 $77.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.58 $34.58

Cinema Ticket

$17.84 $17.84

$11.99 $11.99

48.79%

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

$2,973 $2,973

$1,306 $1,306

127.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$12.3K $12.3K

154.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$60.1 $60.1

27.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$68.4 $68.4

-20.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$78.5 $78.5

63.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 $164

$118 $118

38.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 $2,445

$2,864 $2,864

-14.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 $1,947

$2,190 $2,190

-11.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,744 $4,744

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 $3,469

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,367 $7,367

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,127 $5,127

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,506 $6,506

$7,275 $7,275

-10.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.7

2.84%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$2.2K 65.1% 12.5% $244

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$368 10.9% 32.5% $178

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$340 10.1% 25.6% $117

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$284 8.4% 28.9% $116

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$190 5%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$146 4.4% 23.1% $44

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$12 * 0.4% 90.8% $117

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$114 3%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$24 * 0.7% 78.9% $90

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,445 in Seattle, WA versus $2,864 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 12% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Seattle, WA versus $80.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $546 vs $368 – making Highlands Ranch, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO

🕒 Local time

17:26 5:26 PM

18:26 6:26 PM

1 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Highlands Ranch, CO 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

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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 Highlands Ranch, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,782 in Seattle, WA, $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO – roughly 12% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,673 per month in Seattle, WA and $5,047 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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 $3,782 in Seattle, WA and $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That's a gap of about 12%.

Kindergarten costs $2,973 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,306 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 $3,782 in Seattle, WA and $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO to $3,782 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 Highlands Ranch, CO. 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.