Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Killeen, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Killeen, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,108 in Killeen, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,231 in Killeen, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,354 in Killeen, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 82% more expensive than in Killeen, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Killeen, TX 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$19.82 $19.82

24.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$65.5 $65.5

51.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.78 $11.78

28.10%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.56 $5.56

19.06%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.93 $2.93

6.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.83 $1.83

62.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.25 $5.25

54.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.54 $5.54

41.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.98 $0.98

19.39%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.40 $2.40

116.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.63 $4.63

38.23%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.97 $3.97

23.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$8.69 $8.69

146.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$11.05 $11.05

68.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$18.67 $18.67

23.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.04 $6.04

-4.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.95 $0.95

97.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.96 $4.96

8.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.22 $4.22

49.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.37 $2.37

60.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.76 $2.76

18.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.02 $2.02

42.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.82 $2.82

-3.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$6.16 $6.16

129.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$11.65 $11.65

29.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.06 $2.06

111.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$1.77 $1.77

224.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$72.4 $72.4

51.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.03 $3.03

-15.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.70 $1.70

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$15.14 $15.14

97.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.82 $0.82

68.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

1.36%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

3.99%

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

$296 $296

$205 $205

44.72%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$57.6 $57.6

23.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$69.9 $69.9

25.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$22.41 $22.41

263.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.90 $12.90

42.09%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$2,105 $2,105

45.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

25.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$37.41 $37.41

105.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$19.63 $19.63

174.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$61.6 $61.6

107.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$65.2 $65.2

153.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,002 $1,002

141.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$881 $881

119.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,537 $1,537

209.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,742 $1,742

105.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,779 $1,779

316.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,801 $1,801

180.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,191 $3,191

98.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.13

4.73%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Killeen, TX: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,002 in Killeen, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 98% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $66.0 in Killeen, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $374 per month, with Killeen, TX 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 Killeen, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Killeen, TX differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,108 including rent). Killeen, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 98% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,002 in Killeen, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Killeen, TX runs roughly 52% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $2,105 in Killeen, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,108 in Killeen, TX versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Killeen, TX but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Killeen, TX 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.

Expats usually find Killeen, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.