Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and La Plata, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and La Plata, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,561 in La Plata, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,732 in La Plata, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,904 in La Plata, MD, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than La Plata, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and La Plata, MD sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, La Plata, MD by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$20.32 $20.32

24.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$81.2 $81.2

49.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.53 $11.53

22.38%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.65 $5.65

3.01%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.84 $2.84

4.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.36 $2.36

1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$3.41 $3.41

126.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$5.08 $5.08

54.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.97 $0.97

38.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.19 $3.19

53.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.04 $6.04

-14.90%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$1.77 $1.77

271.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.55 $12.55

96.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$8.95 $8.95

77.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$13.14 $13.14

53.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.23 $5.23

19.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.77 $1.77

61.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$7.03 $7.03

-24.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.27 $4.27

49.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.58 $3.58

-10.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.55 $2.55

50.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.29 $2.29

19.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.50 $2.50

3.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$10.82 $10.82

7.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$13.84 $13.84

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.67 $2.67

7.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.02 $5.02

-12.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.95 $1.95

41.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.76 $2.76

-3.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.34 $1.34

26.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.30 $29.30

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.78 $0.78

46.15%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

11.16%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.87%

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

$268 $268

$96.6 $96.6

177.52%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.23 $43.23

40.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$71.6 $71.6

6.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.09 $43.09

81.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.81 $14.81

6.82%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,205 $1,205

86.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.5K $23.5K

26.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$53.8 $53.8

31.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$62.5 $62.5

-15.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$96.9 $96.9

20.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$196 $196

-29.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,619 $1,619

42.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,337 $1,337

38.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,587 $2,587

83.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,233 $2,233

59.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,943 $2,943

164.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,296 $2,296

133.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$6,496 $6,496

1.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.25

2.72%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for La Plata, MD: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,619 in La Plata, MD. 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 1% 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 in La Plata, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $387 – making La Plata, MD 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 La Plata, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,841 in La Plata, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA and $81.0 in La Plata, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,561 in La Plata, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward La Plata, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with La Plata, MD. 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.