Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lexington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lexington, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,299 in Lexington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,366 in Lexington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $4,434 in Lexington, KY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 58% more expensive than in Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Lexington, KY 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$14.78 $14.78

69.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$69.3 $69.3

70.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.16 $10.16

35.43%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.08 $5.08

15.16%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.22 $2.22

37.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.81 $1.81

32.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$4.86 $4.86

63.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.90 $7.90

-0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.76 $0.76

82.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.99 $2.99

62.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.57 $4.57

13.35%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.33 $3.33

100.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$12.86 $12.86

96.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.28 $11.28

41.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$16.39 $16.39

23.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.56 $4.56

35.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.30 $1.30

121.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.58 $3.58

53.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.47 $4.47

42.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.29 $3.29

-6.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.18 $3.18

19.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.03 $2.03

37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.87 $1.87

39.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.77 $7.77

46.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$13.04 $13.04

19.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.70 $2.70

10.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.26 $3.26

29.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.02 $1.02

163.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$29.97 $29.97

236.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$5.07 $5.07

-47.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.66 $1.66

2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.56 $29.56

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$22.9K $22.9K

45.39%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.06%

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

$261 $261

$210 $210

24.35%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$70.4 $70.4

-14.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$67.4 $67.4

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$34.43 $34.43

128.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$30.05 $30.05

33.38%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$15.10 $15.10

4.77%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,153 $1,153

91.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

18.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$59.6 $59.6

17.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.54 $34.54

50.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$104 $104

12.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$160 $160

-12.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,111 $1,111

108.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,039 $1,039

80.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,121 $2,121

122.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$1,725 $1,725

106.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,085 $2,085

266.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,042 $2,042

146.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,058 $4,058

60.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.67

-3.75%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lexington, KY: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,111 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 61% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Lexington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $374 per month, with Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lexington, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lexington, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 61% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,111 in Lexington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lexington, KY – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,299 in Lexington, KY – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,299 in Lexington, KY versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lexington, KY but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Lexington, KY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lexington, KY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,299 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lexington, KY hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.