Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Jamestown, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Jamestown, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,612 in Jamestown, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,728 in Jamestown, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,844 in Jamestown, ND.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 49% more expensive than in Jamestown, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Jamestown, ND 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$21.29 $21.29

19.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$68.4 $68.4

47.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.80 $11.80

25.42%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.29 $5.29

25.33%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.31 $2.31

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.15 $2.15

37.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.81 $5.81

36.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.51 $6.51

21.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.78 $0.78

56.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.40 $3.40

51.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.33 $4.33

42.26%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.34 $4.34

17.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.64 $11.64

83.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$10.01 $10.01

84.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$16.71 $16.71

37.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.07 $5.07

19.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.64 $1.64

14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.03 $4.03

29.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.28 $5.28

20.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.90 $2.90

30.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.99 $2.99

10.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.20 $2.20

30.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.97 $1.97

35.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.70 $10.70

30.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.85 $15.85

-5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.74 $1.74

139.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.91 $2.91

93.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.92 $1.92

54.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.71 $2.71

-5.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.86 $1.86

-11.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$28.85 $28.85

2.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.91 $0.91

60.44%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$39.0K $39.0K

-7.70%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$27.9K $27.9K

-8.85%

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

$306 $306

$203 $203

50.66%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$58.0 $58.0

20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$69.7 $69.7

25.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$40.87 $40.87

95.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.98 $13.98

27.68%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,443 $1,443

109.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$20.4K $20.4K

52.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$51.6 $51.6

48.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$40.77 $40.77

32.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$90.2 $90.2

39.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$102 $102

59.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,569 $1,569

56.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,293 $1,293

53.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,518 $2,518

93.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,166 $2,166

67.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,744 $2,744

168.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,308 $2,308

116.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,083 $3,083

99.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Jamestown, ND: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,569 in Jamestown, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 100% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $68.0 in Jamestown, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $383 per month, with Jamestown, ND 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 Jamestown, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jamestown, ND is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 100% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,569 in Jamestown, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,443 in Jamestown, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jamestown, ND – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Jamestown, ND is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Jamestown, ND is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Jamestown, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jamestown, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.