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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,594 in Lacey, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,823 in Lacey, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,053 in Lacey, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 50% more expensive than in Lacey, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Lacey, WA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$24.53 $24.53

1.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$68.7 $68.7

45.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.12 $13.12

14.79%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.08 $6.08

4.77%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.96 $3.96

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.51 $2.51

19.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.23 $8.23

-5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$10.03 $10.03

-18.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.09 $1.09

11.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.44 $4.44

12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$2.78 $2.78

129.86%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.11 $5.11

0.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.85 $14.85

41.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$10.62 $10.62

73.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$10.95 $10.95

119.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.32 $5.32

10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.63 $1.63

15.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.01 $4.01

31.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.32 $4.32

49.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.35 $2.35

56.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.47 $2.47

36.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.31 $2.31

20.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.97 $1.97

30.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$12.10 $12.10

15.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.14 $15.14

-0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.08 $2.08

105.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.40 $2.40

144.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.99 $1.99

46.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.13 $5.13

-49.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.68 $2.68

-35.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$51.7 $51.7

-41.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.31 $1.31

6.87%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.3K $36.3K

-0.50%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.73%

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

$299 $299

$157 $157

91.22%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.1 $53.1

30.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$94.7 $94.7

-7.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$41.53 $41.53

93.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$12.68 $12.68

39.59%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,465 $1,465

106.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$49.2K $49.2K

-36.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$44.74 $44.74

72.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$36.76 $36.76

49.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$90.5 $90.5

41.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$100 $100

59.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,611 $1,611

54.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,321 $1,321

46.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,525 $2,525

88.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,160 $2,160

68.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,702 $2,702

180.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,423 $2,423

110.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,164 $4,164

49.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lacey, WA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,611 in Lacey, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 49% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Lacey, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $382 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 49% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,611 in Lacey, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,465 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 $69.0 versus $100 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 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.