Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Houston, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Houston, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 32.9% more expensive than Houston, TX without rent, and 41.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 34.8% more expensive than Houston, TX without rent, and 40.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$20.39 $20.39
23.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$79.3 $79.3
49.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$10.16 $10.16
36.22%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.34 $5.34
8.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.86 $2.86
3.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.21 $2.21
13.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.12 $6.12
27.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.85 $6.85
14.45%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.88 $0.88
52.27%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.11 $3.11
60.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.41 $3.41
56.89%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.05 $4.05
70.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$12.94 $12.94
91.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$12.07 $12.07
30.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$17.05 $17.05
22.23%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.25 $4.25
42.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.4 $1.4
96.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.03 $4.03
35.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$2.49 $2.49
159.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.88 $2.88
7.99%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.29 $2.29
61.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.81 $1.81
53.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.23 $2.23
13.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$9.83 $9.83
18.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$12.24 $12.24
40.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.96 $1.96
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.83 $3.83
9.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.29 $1.29
117.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$74.4 $74.4
35.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.99 $3.99
-32.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.89 $1.89
-12.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$29.44 $29.44
2.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.79 $0.79
46.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$32.6K $32.6K
2.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$198 $198
36.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$63 $63
-1.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$66.4 $66.4
13.15%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$39.34 $39.34
99.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$10.85 $10.85
278.25%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$14.88 $14.88
6.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,272 $1,272
76.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$19.1K $19.1K
51.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$46.43 $46.43
49.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$43.46 $43.46
20.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$99.1 $99.1
20.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$125 $125
13.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,661 $1,661
43.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,276 $1,276
43.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$3,167 $3,167
48.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,450 $2,450
41.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$2,534 $2,534
173.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$1,912 $1,912
173.21%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Houston, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,591 $4,591
40.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.44
-0.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Houston, TX: October 28, 2025

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