Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Kansas City, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Kansas City, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,733 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,510 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,006 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,481 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,279 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 30% more than Kansas City, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Kansas City, KS sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 163%, Kansas City, KS by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$20.35 $20.35

24.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$65.5 $65.5

83.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$11.88 $11.88

16.08%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.97 $4.97

12.88%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.40 $2.40

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.93 $1.93

29.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.93 $4.93

59.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.11 $7.11

11.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.01 $1.01

34.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.57 $3.57

36.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.11 $5.11

3.91%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.37 $4.37

51.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$11.03 $11.03

121.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$10.91 $10.91

46.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$13.15 $13.15

56.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.38 $5.38

13.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.03 $2.03

41.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.72 $6.72

-17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.92 $5.92

13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$4.14 $4.14

-22.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.65 $3.65

3.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.21 $2.21

23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.24 $2.24

16.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$10.10 $10.10

15.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$18.52 $18.52

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.80 $1.80

58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.41 $5.41

-19.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.49 $1.49

80.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$55.4 $55.4

78.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$4.85 $4.85

-45.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.56 $1.56

5.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$41.21 $41.21

-27.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.10%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.19%

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

$264 $264

$190 $190

38.92%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$54.8 $54.8

10.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$52.8 $52.8

44.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$114 $114

-31.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

$64.0 $64.0

-37.46%

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$14.94 $14.94

8.37%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,096 $1,096

105.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$29.3K $29.3K

1.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$48.62 $48.62

44.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$34.37 $34.37

50.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$91.4 $91.4

30.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$124 $124

14.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,354 $1,354

75.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,313 $1,313

43.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$3,386 $3,386

40.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,159 $2,159

66.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$2,208 $2,208

255.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$2,248 $2,248

131.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$3,161 $3,161

103.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, KS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,354 in Kansas City, KS. 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 104% 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 $120 in Seattle, WA versus $65 in Kansas City, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $419 – making Kansas City, KS 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 Kansas City, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 30% more than Kansas City, KS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,309 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,099 in Kansas City, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kansas City, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,253 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,096 in Kansas City, KS. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,539 in Seattle, WA and $2,733 in Kansas City, KS. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kansas City, KS costs $2,733 versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Kansas City, KS. 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.