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 $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,709 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,123 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,538 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 43% 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 182%, Kansas City, KS by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$24.16 $24.16

5.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$78.9 $78.9

27.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.25 $12.25

20.82%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.93 $5.93

11.80%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.23 $3.23

-4.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.54 $2.54

16.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.97 $4.97

59.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.60 $7.60

3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.16 $1.16

5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.34 $3.34

53.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.36 $5.36

14.93%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.31 $4.31

17.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.60 $13.60

56.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$9.82 $9.82

87.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$13.76 $13.76

67.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.16 $4.16

45.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.54 $1.54

22.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$6.09 $6.09

-14.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.49 $5.49

16.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.08 $3.08

22.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.74 $3.74

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.39 $2.39

20.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.14 $2.14

24.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.63 $9.63

44.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$16.92 $16.92

-11.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.80 $1.80

131.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.84 $3.84

46.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.51 $1.51

96.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$56.0 $56.0

92.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.05 $5.05

-49.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.34 $1.34

23.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$41.60 $41.60

-29.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.88 $0.88

65.91%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.3K $35.3K

2.02%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

2.90%

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

$306 $306

$202 $202

51.71%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$53.6 $53.6

30.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$65.2 $65.2

33.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$112 $112

-28.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$64.6 $64.6

-46.23%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.26 $15.26

16.97%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$455 $455

563.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$21.4K $21.4K

45.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$61.1 $61.1

25.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$43.75 $43.75

23.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$106 $106

18.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$146 $146

11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,489 $1,489

65.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,238 $1,238

60.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,806 $2,806

73.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,197 $2,197

64.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,250 $2,250

227.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,178 $2,178

129.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,190 $3,190

93.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, KS: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,489 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 93% 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in Kansas City, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $399 – 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 43% 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 $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,063 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 $3,018 per month in Seattle, WA and $455 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 38% 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 $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $2,709 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 $2,709 versus $3,886 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.