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: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $1,824 in Jefferson City, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,869 in Jefferson City, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,915 in Jefferson City, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 110% more expensive than in Jefferson City, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Jefferson City, MO 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$15.13 $15.13

63.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$40.58 $40.58

144.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.01 $10.01

50.75%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.66 $5.66

16.96%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$1.98 $1.98

58.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.23 $2.23

33.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.59 $5.59

45.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.38 $6.38

23.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.86 $0.86

36.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.35 $3.35

55.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.52 $4.52

41.59%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.22 $4.22

16.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$4.28 $4.28

401.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.80 $9.80

89.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$13.67 $13.67

68.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.55 $4.55

27.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.55 $1.55

21.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.56 $4.56

17.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.35 $4.35

44.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.18 $3.18

19.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.43 $3.43

-4.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.37 $2.37

21.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$7.83 $7.83

80.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$12.70 $12.70

18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.03 $2.03

114.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.80 $3.80

51.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.05 $3.05

0.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.48 $2.48

3.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.27 $1.27

29.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$60.3 $60.3

-50.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.85 $0.85

62.35%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

2.40%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.22%

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

$296 $296

$202 $202

46.94%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$66.0 $66.0

8.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$70.1 $70.1

25.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.91 $14.91

22.94%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,133 $1,133

170.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$20.7K $20.7K

47.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$50.6 $50.6

52.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$43.65 $43.65

23.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$103 $103

23.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$124 $124

32.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$870 $870

177.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$706 $706

173.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,786 $1,786

166.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,564 $1,564

129.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,537 $1,537

381.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,754 $1,754

188.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$1,907 $1,907

231.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jefferson City, MO: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $870 in Jefferson City, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 231% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $41.00 in Jefferson City, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $344 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 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 231% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $870 in Jefferson City, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,133 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 $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,824 in Jefferson City, MO versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Jefferson City, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Jefferson City, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 110% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.