Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Kearney, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Kearney, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,040 in Kearney, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $2,867 in Kearney, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $3,693 in Kearney, NE.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 78% more expensive than Kearney, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Kearney, NE 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$14.80 $14.80

67.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$58.8 $58.8

101.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.64 $11.64

18.38%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.13 $5.13

9.36%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.14 $2.14

35.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.91 $1.91

28.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$3.92 $3.92

103.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.87 $4.87

68.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.82 $0.82

69.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.70 $1.70

185.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.73 $3.73

38.34%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.31 $3.31

99.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$8.61 $8.61

191.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$6.75 $6.75

133.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$15.62 $15.62

30.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$6.74 $6.74

-7.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.26 $2.26

21.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$5.85 $5.85

-8.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.78 $4.78

35.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.80 $1.80

71.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.73 $2.73

41.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.05 $2.05

34.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.45 $2.45

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$9.34 $9.34

21.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.09 $15.09

2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.80 $1.80

57.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.03 $2.03

108.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.93 $2.93

-12.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.41 $1.41

21.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$24.98 $24.98

20.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.80 $0.80

43.75%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$24.0K $24.0K

39.00%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.03%

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

$263 $263

$332 $332

-20.70%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.6 $52.6

14.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$67.6 $67.6

9.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$54.5 $54.5

47.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

$6.08 $6.08

574.18%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$12.33 $12.33

29.03%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$925 $925

146.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

21.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$29.63 $29.63

136.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$37.42 $37.42

43.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$93.2 $93.2

27.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$112 $112

27.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$908 $908

154.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$732 $732

149.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,635 $2,635

78.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,045 $1,045

234.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$1,502 $1,502

443.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$1,527 $1,527

240.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$7,493 $7,493

-12.41%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Kearney, NE: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $908 in Kearney, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $59.0 in Kearney, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $346 per month, with Kearney, NE cheaper across the board.

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 Kearney, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Kearney, NE differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,040 including rent). Kearney, NE is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Kearney, NE earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $908 in Kearney, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,040 in Kearney, NE – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,040 in Kearney, NE versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kearney, NE but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Kearney, NE the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Kearney, NE 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 Kearney, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.