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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,365 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,524 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,682 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 49% more than Kansas City, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Kansas City, MO sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 165%, Kansas City, MO by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$20.37 $20.37

24.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$80.6 $80.6

50.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$11.98 $11.98

15.28%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.00 $5.00

17.20%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.32 $2.32

29.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.88 $1.88

28.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$5.97 $5.97

32.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.11 $7.11

15.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.16 $1.16

20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.51 $3.51

39.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.90 $4.90

5.71%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.59 $3.59

90.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$13.70 $13.70

81.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$10.64 $10.64

47.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$12.82 $12.82

56.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.38 $4.38

37.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.46 $1.46

94.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.72 $6.72

-20.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$6.80 $6.80

-1.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.53 $3.53

-11.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.70 $3.70

-0.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.32 $2.32

20.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.67 $2.67

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.01 $7.01

61.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$15.17 $15.17

2.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.98 $1.98

44.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$5.38 $5.38

-21.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.97 $1.97

41.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.43 $2.43

7.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.20 $2.20

-24.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$21.27 $21.27

39.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$36.7K $36.7K

-9.17%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.75%

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

$263 $263

$219 $219

19.86%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$62.5 $62.5

-2.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$54.3 $54.3

37.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$59.1 $59.1

34.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

$29.50 $29.50

39.15%

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$15.23 $15.23

3.81%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,395 $1,395

64.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$28.5K $28.5K

3.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$53.4 $53.4

27.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$42.46 $42.46

22.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$106 $106

10.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$126 $126

10.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,346 $1,346

76.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,028 $1,028

82.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,352 $2,352

102.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$1,699 $1,699

110.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$2,564 $2,564

213.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$1,945 $1,945

167.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$3,905 $3,905

69.56%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, MO: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,346 in Kansas City, MO. 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 70% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $81.0 in Kansas City, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $415 – making Kansas City, MO 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, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA, $2,365 in Kansas City, MO – roughly 49% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,548 in Kansas City, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $2,365 in Kansas City, MO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,289 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,395 in Kansas City, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kansas City, MO, where all-in costs run around $2,365, than in Seattle, WA at $3,533. In Kansas City, MO it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,365 in Kansas City, MO to $3,533 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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