Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ketchikan, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Ketchikan, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,860 in Ketchikan, AK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $4,046 in Ketchikan, AK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,231 in Ketchikan, AK.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than in Ketchikan, AK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Ketchikan, AK 115% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$19.07 $19.07

31.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75.9 $75.9

55.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.79 $10.79

27.53%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.21 $5.21

12.28%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.53 $2.53

20.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.98 $1.98

20.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.12 $6.12

29.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.16 $7.16

9.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.05 $1.05

32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.44 $3.44

41.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.45 $4.45

16.40%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.29 $3.29

103.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$12.35 $12.35

104.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.62 $11.62

37.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$15.23 $15.23

32.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.06 $5.06

22.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.56 $1.56

84.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.24 $4.24

29.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.82 $4.82

32.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.92 $2.92

5.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.76 $2.76

37.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.05 $2.05

36.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.13 $2.13

22.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$9.57 $9.57

19.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$13.27 $13.27

17.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.78 $1.78

67.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.44 $3.44

22.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$24.59 $24.59

310.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.58 $3.58

-25.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.66 $1.66

2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.10 $29.10

1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.11 $1.11

2.70%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.1K $29.1K

14.56%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.87%

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

$261 $261

$187 $187

39.90%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$52.6 $52.6

14.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$67.8 $67.8

11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$43.18 $43.18

82.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.25 $13.25

19.40%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,295 $1,295

70.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$51.0 $51.0

37.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.92 $39.92

30.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.6 $85.6

36.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$110 $110

26.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,634 $1,634

42.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,574 $1,574

18.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,430 $2,430

94.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,449 $2,449

45.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,774 $2,774

175.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,734 $2,734

84.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,580 $4,580

42.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ketchikan, AK: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,634 in Ketchikan, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 42% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $76.0 in Ketchikan, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $383 per month, with Ketchikan, AK 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 Ketchikan, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Ketchikan, AK differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($3,621 vs $2,860 including rent). Ketchikan, AK is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 42% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,634 in Ketchikan, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,210 in Seattle, WA versus $1,295 in Ketchikan, AK. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ketchikan, AK is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Ketchikan, AK 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 Ketchikan, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.