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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,646 in Laurel, MS, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,846 in Laurel, MS, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,045 in Laurel, MS, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 47% more than Laurel, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Laurel, MS sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 184%, Laurel, MS by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$17.25 $17.25

44.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$60.1 $60.1

66.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.09 $9.09

65.68%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.77 $5.77

10.40%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.13 $2.13

44.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.38 $2.38

26.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.08 $5.08

53.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.13 $6.13

33.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.02 $1.02

18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.08 $3.08

62.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.79 $4.79

33.40%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.02 $4.02

27.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$9.37 $9.37

124.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.04 $11.04

66.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.18 $16.18

48.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.05 $4.05

45.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.37 $1.37

37.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$7.78 $7.78

-32.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$2.96 $2.96

118.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.07 $1.07

243.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$5.22 $5.22

-35.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.80 $2.80

-0.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.86 $2.86

-9.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.70 $9.70

43.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$11.81 $11.81

26.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.40 $2.40

78.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.57 $3.57

64.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.11 $2.11

38.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.98 $2.98

-13.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.61 $1.61

6.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$30.20 $30.20

0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.88 $0.88

59.09%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.0K $34.0K

6.23%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.64%

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

$299 $299

$281 $281

6.42%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$76.8 $76.8

-9.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$70.4 $70.4

24.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$42.35 $42.35

89.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$16.10 $16.10

9.94%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,368 $1,368

120.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$18.2K $18.2K

70.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$59.3 $59.3

30.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$39.39 $39.39

39.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$108 $108

19.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$137 $137

16.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,595 $1,595

56.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,314 $1,314

46.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,485 $2,485

91.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,131 $2,131

70.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,708 $2,708

180.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,432 $2,432

110.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.18

4.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Laurel, MS: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,595 in Laurel, MS. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA versus $60.0 in Laurel, MS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $384 – making Laurel, MS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA, $2,646 in Laurel, MS – roughly 47% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,969 in Laurel, MS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laurel, MS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA and $60.0 in Laurel, MS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,646 in Laurel, MS. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,646 in Laurel, MS to $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Laurel, MS. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.