Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Jefferson City, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Jefferson City, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,498 in Jefferson City, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,535 in Jefferson City, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,573 in Jefferson City, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 43% more expensive than in Jefferson City, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Jefferson City, MO 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.24 $15.24

62.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$40.54 $40.54

193.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.97 $9.97

41.93%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.97 $4.97

14.89%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.01 $2.01

45.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.46 $1.46

72.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$4.98 $4.98

58.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.93 $5.93

35.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.64 $0.64

112.50%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.23 $2.23

127.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.46 $4.46

17.71%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.58 $3.58

93.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$4.47 $4.47

458.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.54 $10.54

49.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$12.73 $12.73

62.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.48 $4.48

38.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.45 $1.45

92.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.38 $6.38

-13.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$4.50 $4.50

42.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.59 $3.59

-11.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.59 $3.59

8.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.31 $2.31

16.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$6.94 $6.94

63.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$12.71 $12.71

23.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.98 $1.98

44.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$5.29 $5.29

-19.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.02 $2.02

34.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.44 $2.44

5.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.23 $2.23

-26.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$20.97 $20.97

41.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.76 $0.76

50.00%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$36.4K $36.4K

-9.73%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.92%

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

$264 $264

$216 $216

22.00%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$62.7 $62.7

-1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$53.7 $53.7

40.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.46 $43.46

79.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.95 $14.95

7.76%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,387 $1,387

59.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$28.3K $28.3K

2.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$54.0 $54.0

28.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$42.16 $42.16

27.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$107 $107

11.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$126 $126

12.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,607 $1,607

46.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,354 $1,354

35.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,635 $2,635

77.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,209 $2,209

61.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$1,574 $1,574

378.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,734 $1,734

191.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$1,917 $1,917

237.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jefferson City, MO: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,607 in Jefferson City, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 238% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $41.00 in Jefferson City, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $342 per month, with Jefferson City, MO 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 Jefferson City, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jefferson City, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 238% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,607 in Jefferson City, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,212 in Seattle, WA versus $1,387 in Jefferson City, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jefferson City, MO – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $119 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. Jefferson City, MO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Jefferson City, MO 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 Jefferson City, MO 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 Jefferson City, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.