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: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,249 in Lexington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,324 in Lexington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,398 in Lexington, KY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 62% more expensive than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Lexington, KY 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$15.19 $15.19

63.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$70.8 $70.8

67.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.90 $9.90

39.19%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.00 $5.00

12.20%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.23 $2.23

29.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.83 $1.83

34.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.62 $4.62

72.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.22 $8.22

-0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.78 $0.78

78.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.00 $3.00

62.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.69 $4.69

10.02%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.23 $3.23

104.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$13.06 $13.06

91.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$10.93 $10.93

44.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$16.07 $16.07

26.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.81 $4.81

29.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.25 $1.25

119.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$3.49 $3.49

52.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.34 $4.34

49.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.34 $3.34

-7.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.20 $3.20

20.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.97 $1.97

39.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.84 $1.84

38.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$7.71 $7.71

47.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$12.84 $12.84

20.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.68 $2.68

5.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.26 $3.26

30.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.97 $0.97

177.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$29.69 $29.69

229.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.98 $4.98

-48.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.66 $1.66

3.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.40 $29.40

2.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.79 $0.79

45.57%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

40.75%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.26%

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

$263 $263

$209 $209

26.07%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$72.4 $72.4

-16.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$69.1 $69.1

7.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$35.14 $35.14

129.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

$30.50 $30.50

34.39%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$15.29 $15.29

4.05%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,183 $1,183

92.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

21.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$57.8 $57.8

21.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.83 $34.83

54.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$104 $104

14.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$156 $156

-8.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,110 $1,110

108.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,015 $1,015

80.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,100 $2,100

123.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,711 $1,711

103.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,057 $2,057

296.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,106 $2,106

146.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,987 $3,987

64.62%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lexington, KY: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,110 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 65% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $71.0 in Lexington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $371 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 62% 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.

Seattle, WA pays 65% 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,110 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 $71.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,249 in Lexington, KY – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,249 in Lexington, KY versus $3,634 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 $2,249 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 62% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.