Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Laurel, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Laurel, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,693 in Laurel, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $4,269 in Laurel, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $5,844 in Laurel, MD.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 31% more expensive than Laurel, MD, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Laurel, MD 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$12.20 $12.20

106.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$50.9 $50.9

135.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$10.17 $10.17

35.59%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.90 $4.90

14.49%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.05 $2.05

46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.05 $2.05

21.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.46 $6.46

21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.68 $7.68

3.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.99 $0.99

37.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.60 $3.60

35.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$7.33 $7.33

-27.56%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.89 $3.89

69.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$18.77 $18.77

30.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$19.84 $19.84

-19.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$13.39 $13.39

53.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$6.29 $6.29

-3.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$8.21 $8.21

-32.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$10.91 $10.91

-38.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.80 $2.80

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.16 $2.16

75.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.87 $2.87

-5.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.95 $2.95

-11.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$7.87 $7.87

48.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$17.70 $17.70

-10.68%

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

$3.78 $3.78

15.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$4.48 $4.48

-41.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.63 $1.63

1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$29.47 $29.47

1.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.84 $0.84

35.71%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$26.4K $26.4K

23.71%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.92%

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

$264 $264

$161 $161

63.87%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$53.2 $53.2

13.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$66.3 $66.3

14.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.51 $42.51

83.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$12.99 $12.99

24.63%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,821 $1,821

23.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.5K $23.5K

26.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$38.55 $38.55

82.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$29.63 $29.63

74.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$90.6 $90.6

31.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$121 $121

17.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,582 $1,582

50.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,390 $1,390

35.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,631 $2,631

80.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,989 $2,989

19.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$2,195 $2,195

257.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$2,502 $2,502

108.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$5,346 $5,346

20.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Laurel, MD: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,582 in Laurel, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 21% 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 $51 in Laurel, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $534 per month, with Laurel, MD 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 Laurel, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Laurel, MD differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($3,539 vs $2,693 including rent). Laurel, MD is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 21% 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 $1,582 in Laurel, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,693 in Laurel, MD – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Laurel, MD 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.

Expats usually find Laurel, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.