Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lafayette, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lafayette, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,315 in Lafayette, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,172 in Lafayette, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $4,030 in Lafayette, IN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 53% more expensive than Lafayette, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Lafayette, IN 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$15.20 $15.20

66.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$59.3 $59.3

102.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$7.96 $7.96

73.24%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.32 $4.32

29.86%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.13 $2.13

40.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.13 $2.13

17.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.92 $4.92

59.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.89 $6.89

14.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.76 $0.76

78.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.29 $3.29

47.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.86 $3.86

37.56%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.08 $3.08

114.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$10.20 $10.20

140.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$9.65 $9.65

66.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$15.58 $15.58

32.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$4.13 $4.13

47.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.40 $1.40

105.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.84 $3.84

45.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.90 $4.90

37.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.10 $2.10

52.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.94 $2.94

28.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.68 $1.68

61.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.32 $1.32

98.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$7.98 $7.98

46.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$12.85 $12.85

23.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.70 $1.70

67.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.75 $1.75

150.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.53 $1.53

75.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$40.29 $40.29

145.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.79 $3.79

-30.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$20.65 $20.65

44.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-6.72%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.14%

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

$264 $264

$119 $119

122.86%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$55.7 $55.7

8.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$56.3 $56.3

35.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$33.02 $33.02

136.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

$25.19 $25.19

58.83%

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$10.90 $10.90

48.53%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,431 $1,431

57.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$17.1K $17.1K

74.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$40.63 $40.63

73.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$39.45 $39.45

31.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$88.1 $88.1

35.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$91.1 $91.1

56.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,151 $1,151

106.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,214 $1,214

55.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,013 $2,013

136.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$1,628 $1,628

120.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$1,789 $1,789

338.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,750 $1,750

197.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$3,244 $3,244

98.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Lafayette, IN: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,151 in Lafayette, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 99% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $59 in Lafayette, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $335 per month, with Lafayette, IN 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 Lafayette, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Lafayette, IN differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($3,539 vs $2,315 including rent). Lafayette, IN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 99% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,151 in Lafayette, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lafayette, IN – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,315 in Lafayette, IN versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lafayette, IN but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Lafayette, IN 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 Lafayette, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.