Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Juneau, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Juneau, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,202 in Juneau, AK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,694 in Juneau, AK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $6,187 in Juneau, AK.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 11% more expensive than in Juneau, AK, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Juneau, AK 140% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.08 $15.08

64.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$67.2 $67.2

76.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.90 $8.90

58.99%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.29 $5.29

7.94%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.43 $2.43

20.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.94 $1.94

29.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.89 $6.89

14.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.87 $6.87

17.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.40 $1.40

-2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.70 $5.70

-11.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.50 $6.50

-19.23%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$6.43 $6.43

7.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$17.44 $17.44

43.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$22.08 $22.08

-28.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$26.99 $26.99

-23.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.72 $6.72

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.58 $3.58

-22.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.58 $4.58

20.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$7.04 $7.04

-8.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.63 $2.63

20.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.53 $3.53

10.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.57 $2.57

5.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.92 $2.92

-13.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$14.88 $14.88

-23.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$17.03 $17.03

-7.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.51 $2.51

14.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.90 $3.90

9.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$39.21 $39.21

152.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.53 $3.53

-26.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.64 $1.64

-0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.31 $29.31

1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.05 $1.05

8.57%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$29.3K $29.3K

11.90%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-24.55%

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

$264 $264

$284 $284

-7.21%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$79.8 $79.8

-22.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$137 $137

-44.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$122 $122

-35.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$12.80 $12.80

25.86%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$874 $874

153.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.1K $23.1K

25.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$69.7 $69.7

-0.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$65.7 $65.7

-18.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$90.7 $90.7

31.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$198 $198

-28.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,006 $2,006

17.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,395 $1,395

31.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,057 $3,057

53.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,590 $2,590

37.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,557 $3,557

111.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,725 $3,725

35.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,011 $4,011

61.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Juneau, AK: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,006 in Juneau, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 61% 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 $67.0 in Juneau, AK. Groceries flip the comparison at $543 vs $590, with Seattle, WA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Juneau, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Juneau, AK wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Juneau, AK the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 61% 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 $2,006 in Juneau, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,202 in Juneau, AK – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Juneau, AK runs roughly 152% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Juneau, AK is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Juneau, AK delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,202 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Juneau, AK hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Juneau, AK 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 Juneau, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.