Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lacey, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lacey, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,695 in Lacey, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,009 in Lacey, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,323 in Lacey, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 33% more expensive than Lacey, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Lacey, WA 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$27.79 $27.79

-10.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$112 $112

5.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.54 $12.54

9.81%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.19 $6.19

-7.75%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.53 $3.53

-13.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.73 $2.73

-8.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.81 $6.81

14.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$10.85 $10.85

-27.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.08 $1.08

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.33 $4.33

16.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.87 $2.87

87.80%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.38 $4.38

56.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.76 $14.76

69.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.42 $10.42

52.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.46 $15.46

33.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.29 $5.29

16.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.68 $1.68

67.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.14 $4.14

33.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.74 $3.74

80.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.45 $2.45

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.64 $2.64

44.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.47 $2.47

8.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.09 $3.09

-14.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.16 $9.16

27.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.96 $14.96

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.92 $1.92

52.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.59 $3.59

18.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.01 $2.01

40.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.93 $4.93

-47.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.02 $2.02

-14.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$52.3 $52.3

-42.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.13 $1.13

5.31%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.23%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.78%

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

$263 $263

$155 $155

68.88%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.4 $51.4

18.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$94.4 $94.4

-19.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.03 $43.03

84.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.66 $12.66

28.52%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,479 $1,479

54.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-0.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$50.6 $50.6

35.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.90 $36.90

40.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$90.5 $90.5

27.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$98.2 $98.2

46.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,612 $1,612

44.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,357 $1,357

37.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,671 $2,671

73.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,258 $2,258

53.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,539 $2,539

205.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,495 $2,495

109.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,479 $4,479

47.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.61

-2.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lacey, WA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,612 in Lacey, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 48% 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 $112 in Lacey, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $404 per month, with Lacey, WA 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 Lacey, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lacey, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 48% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,612 in Lacey, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,479 in Lacey, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lacey, WA – a meal for two runs $112 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Lacey, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Lacey, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lacey, WA 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 Lacey, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.