Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lewiston, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lewiston, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,104 in Lewiston, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,195 in Lewiston, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,287 in Lewiston, ID.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 82% more expensive than in Lewiston, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Lewiston, ID 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$19.98 $19.98

23.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$57.5 $57.5

72.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$13.20 $13.20

14.32%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.91 $5.91

12.01%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.02 $3.02

3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.19 $2.19

36.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.15 $6.15

32.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.16 $7.16

9.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.03 $1.03

13.59%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.46 $3.46

50.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.27 $4.27

49.88%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.35 $4.35

12.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.35 $12.35

73.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$11.68 $11.68

59.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$16.42 $16.42

40.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.94 $4.94

17.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.62 $1.62

16.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.40 $4.40

22.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.73 $4.73

33.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.77 $2.77

37.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.03 $3.03

7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.17 $2.17

32.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.24 $2.24

20.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.13 $10.13

39.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.97 $14.97

0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.94 $1.94

124.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.44 $3.44

67.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.97 $1.97

55.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.91 $2.91

-11.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.71 $1.71

-3.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$29.65 $29.65

0.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.98 $0.98

40.82%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.4K $35.4K

2.99%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

-2.82%

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

$296 $296

$204 $204

45.24%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$58.5 $58.5

21.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$69.4 $69.4

26.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.05 $41.05

98.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.97 $13.97

31.21%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,432 $1,432

114.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

32.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$52.2 $52.2

47.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$41.12 $41.12

31.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$86.9 $86.9

46.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$116 $116

41.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,035 $1,035

133.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$794 $794

143.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,736 $1,736

174.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,506 $1,506

137.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,750 $2,750

169.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,369 $2,369

113.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$2,594 $2,594

143.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lewiston, ID: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,035 in Lewiston, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 144% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $58.0 in Lewiston, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $396 per month, with Lewiston, ID 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 Lewiston, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Lewiston, ID differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,104 including rent). Lewiston, ID is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 144% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,035 in Lewiston, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,104 in Lewiston, ID – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,104 in Lewiston, ID versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lewiston, ID but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Lewiston, ID 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 Lewiston, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.