Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Issaquah, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Issaquah, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,949 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,347 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,745 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 23% more than Issaquah, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Issaquah, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Issaquah, WA by 119%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$25.35 $25.35

-2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$95.4 $95.4

24.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$12.12 $12.12

13.70%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.63 $5.63

-0.36%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$3.19 $3.19

-9.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.43 $2.43

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.93 $6.93

14.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.63 $7.63

7.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.33 $1.33

4.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.08 $5.08

-4.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.32 $5.32

-3.01%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.28 $4.28

54.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$17.68 $17.68

41.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.20 $11.20

40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$17.92 $17.92

13.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$6.59 $6.59

-5.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.21 $2.21

23.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.52 $4.52

17.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$6.13 $6.13

5.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.05 $3.05

1.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.70 $2.70

42.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.70 $2.70

1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.98 $2.98

-14.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$11.33 $11.33

0.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$20.07 $20.07

-22.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.90 $1.90

49.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.57 $4.57

-7.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.62 $2.62

-1.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.63 $1.63

5.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.81 $29.81

1.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$33.0K $33.0K

0.78%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.96%

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

$263 $263

$203 $203

29.49%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$60.1 $60.1

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$73.9 $73.9

0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$43.43 $43.43

85.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,443 $1,443

58.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$29.4K $29.4K

1.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$51.6 $51.6

35.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$52.9 $52.9

1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$90.9 $90.9

30.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$96.8 $96.8

47.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$2,132 $2,132

8.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,501 $1,501

21.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,980 $2,980

57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,528 $2,528

38.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$4,190 $4,190

94.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$6,458 $6,458

1.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Issaquah, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $2,132 in Issaquah, WA. 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 2% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $95.0 in Issaquah, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $480 – making Issaquah, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Issaquah, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,424 in Issaquah, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Issaquah, WA, 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 $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,949 in Issaquah, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,443 in Issaquah, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,949 in Issaquah, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Issaquah, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Issaquah, WA. 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.