Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lebanon, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lebanon, NH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,855 in Lebanon, NH, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,498 in Lebanon, NH, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,140 in Lebanon, NH, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 26% more than Lebanon, NH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Lebanon, NH sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Lebanon, NH by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$29.74 $29.74

-16.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$121 $121

-2.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.82 $11.82

16.50%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.14 $6.14

-7.00%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.90 $2.90

5.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.37 $2.37

5.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.35 $6.35

23.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.11 $8.11

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.75 $0.75

80.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.68 $3.68

37.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.67 $7.67

-29.73%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.19 $4.19

63.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$16.64 $16.64

50.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.63 $10.63

49.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.75 $16.75

22.93%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.48 $3.48

76.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.70 $1.70

65.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.61 $6.61

-16.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.76 $4.76

41.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.92 $2.92

7.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$5.72 $5.72

-33.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.14 $3.14

-14.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.39 $2.39

10.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$12.37 $12.37

-5.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.15 $15.15

3.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.94 $1.94

51.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.07 $3.07

38.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.01 $2.01

40.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.96 $1.96

32.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.38 $1.38

24.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.56 $29.56

2.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.85 $0.85

40.00%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$28.8K $28.8K

13.76%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$37.1K $37.1K

-29.56%

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

$263 $263

$206 $206

27.38%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$44.42 $44.42

37.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$60.7 $60.7

25.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.70 $42.70

86.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.16 $13.16

23.63%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,292 $1,292

76.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.4K $23.4K

25.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$49.49 $49.49

38.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$76.0 $76.0

-31.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$120 $120

-3.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$135 $135

6.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,571 $1,571

48.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,440 $1,440

29.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,919 $2,919

58.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,794 $2,794

24.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,636 $2,636

194.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,380 $2,380

119.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,391 $5,391

22.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.71

-4.32%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lebanon, NH: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,571 in Lebanon, NH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $121 in Lebanon, NH. Groceries tell a different story – $547 in Seattle, WA vs $430 in Lebanon, NH – so Lebanon, NH wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lebanon, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,283 in Lebanon, NH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lebanon, NH, 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 $118 in Seattle, WA and $121 in Lebanon, NH. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,855 in Lebanon, NH. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lebanon, NH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Lebanon, NH. 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.