Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Janesville, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Janesville, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,072 in Janesville, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,044 in Janesville, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,016 in Janesville, WI, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 74% more than Janesville, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Janesville, WI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Janesville, WI by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.34 $18.34

35.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$60.3 $60.3

95.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.02 $12.02

14.56%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$2.95 $2.95

93.56%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.24 $2.24

36.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.39 $2.39

4.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$2.02 $2.02

287.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.09 $6.09

29.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.09 $1.09

23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.20 $2.20

130.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.33 $5.33

1.13%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.48 $4.48

52.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.56 $14.56

72.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.07 $10.07

57.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$11.17 $11.17

84.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.32 $5.32

15.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.71 $1.71

64.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.38 $4.38

25.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.45 $4.45

51.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.54 $2.54

24.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.82 $2.82

35.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.43 $2.43

10.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.70 $2.70

-2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.15 $10.15

14.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.07 $15.07

4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.49 $2.49

17.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.56 $3.56

19.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$59.5 $59.5

68.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.23 $3.23

-19.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.44 $1.44

19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$24.89 $24.89

21.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.10 $1.10

8.18%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$32.5K $32.5K

0.76%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.82%

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

$263 $263

$183 $183

43.31%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$63.5 $63.5

-4.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$66.2 $66.2

14.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.19 $43.19

84.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.79 $12.79

27.21%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,038 $2,038

11.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

-25.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$61.0 $61.0

12.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$51.4 $51.4

1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$97.7 $97.7

18.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$129 $129

11.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,613 $1,613

44.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$795 $795

134.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,232 $1,232

275.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,238 $1,238

180.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,653 $2,653

192.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,322 $2,322

125.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,674 $3,674

80.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.6

-2.73%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Janesville, WI: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,613 in Janesville, WI. 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 80% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $60.0 in Janesville, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $381 – making Janesville, WI 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 Janesville, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $2,072 in Janesville, WI – roughly 74% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,107 in Janesville, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janesville, WI, 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,072 in Janesville, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 68% less in Janesville, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,072 in Janesville, WI. 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 $2,072 in Janesville, WI to $3,598 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 Janesville, WI. 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.