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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,465 in Lakewood, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,761 in Lakewood, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,056 in Lakewood, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 46% more expensive than Lakewood, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Lakewood, WA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$22.19 $22.19

11.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$120 $120

-1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.41 $12.41

10.96%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.22 $6.22

-8.20%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$5.08 $5.08

-39.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.38 $2.38

5.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.82 $8.82

-11.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$12.09 $12.09

-34.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.00 $1.00

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.32 $1.32

283.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.83 $2.83

90.46%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$5.04 $5.04

35.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.08 $11.08

126.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.48 $15.48

2.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.36 $15.36

34.05%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.00 $5.00

22.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.53 $1.53

84.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.87 $2.87

91.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.72 $3.72

81.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.95 $1.95

61.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.98 $1.98

92.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.52 $2.52

6.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.96 $2.96

-10.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.13 $9.13

27.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.77 $15.77

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.10 $2.10

39.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.35 $3.35

26.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.52 $2.52

3.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.60 $1.60

7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.96 $28.96

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.20 $1.20

-0.83%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$23.3K $23.3K

40.49%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$20.4K $20.4K

28.07%

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

$263 $263

$83.9 $83.9

212.96%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.0 $52.0

17.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$54.3 $54.3

39.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.41 $43.41

83.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.67 $13.67

19.02%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,114 $2,114

7.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-1.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$27.30 $27.30

151.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$37.84 $37.84

37.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.3 $86.3

34.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$73.7 $73.7

94.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,599 $1,599

46.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,332 $1,332

39.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,332 $2,332

98.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,242 $2,242

55.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,661 $2,661

191.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,383 $2,383

119.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

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 Lakewood, WA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,599 in Lakewood, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $120 in Lakewood, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $547 vs $380, with Lakewood, WA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lakewood, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Lakewood, WA differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,465 including rent). Lakewood, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $3,698 in Lakewood, WA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,599 in Lakewood, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,465 in Lakewood, WA – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lakewood, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.