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 $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,412 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,604 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,797 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 61% 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 184%, Kansas City, MO by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$25.46 $25.46

-1.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$80.6 $80.6

23.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.41 $12.41

21.35%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.15 $6.15

3.58%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.09 $3.09

-0.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.44 $2.44

22.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.06 $7.06

10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.59 $7.59

8.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.25 $1.25

-3.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.44 $3.44

45.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.17 $5.17

23.60%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.20 $4.20

21.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.47 $14.47

45.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$9.80 $9.80

87.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$13.53 $13.53

77.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.32 $4.32

36.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.61 $1.61

16.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.53 $4.53

16.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.76 $5.76

12.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.24 $3.24

13.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.30 $3.30

1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.40 $2.40

16.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.11 $2.11

22.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$7.79 $7.79

78.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.07 $15.07

-0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.97 $1.97

117.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.97 $3.97

47.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.52 $2.52

1.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.23 $1.23

39.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$60.0 $60.0

-49.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.92 $0.92

52.17%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.4K $35.4K

2.05%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

1.17%

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

$299 $299

$199 $199

50.61%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$66.7 $66.7

4.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$70.0 $70.0

25.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$45.19 $45.19

77.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$32.59 $32.59

7.18%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.84 $14.84

19.27%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,137 $1,137

165.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$21.1K $21.1K

47.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$59.7 $59.7

29.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.06 $43.06

27.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$104 $104

23.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$143 $143

11.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,414 $1,414

75.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,077 $1,077

79.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,720 $2,720

74.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,701 $1,701

113.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,571 $2,571

195.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,959 $1,959

160.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,976 $3,976

56.43%

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 14, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,414 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 56% 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 $100 in Seattle, WA versus $81.0 in Kansas City, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $395 – 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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA, $2,412 in Kansas City, MO – roughly 61% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,617 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 $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,412 in Kansas City, MO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,020 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,137 in Kansas City, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,412 in Kansas City, MO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,412 in Kansas City, MO to $3,880 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.