Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lihue, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lihue, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,124 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,521 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,918 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 14% more expensive than in Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Lihue, HI 134% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$45.18 $45.18

-45.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$80.0 $80.0

48.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.44 $12.44

13.75%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.82 $6.82

-16.28%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.57 $2.57

14.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.99 $1.99

26.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$3.90 $3.90

102.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$3.91 $3.91

105.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.81 $1.81

-24.86%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.75 $6.75

-24.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.80 $2.80

87.50%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$10.29 $10.29

-32.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$15.61 $15.61

59.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$15.20 $15.20

3.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$19.86 $19.86

4.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.80 $4.80

28.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.64 $1.64

70.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$8.86 $8.86

-37.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$9.71 $9.71

-33.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.79 $2.79

13.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$6.09 $6.09

-36.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.62 $3.62

-25.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.10 $2.10

20.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$12.10 $12.10

-6.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$16.03 $16.03

-2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.62 $1.62

77.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.62 $1.62

162.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.02 $2.02

34.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$52.2 $52.2

89.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.43 $3.43

-24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.60 $1.60

1.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.57 $29.57

0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.41 $1.41

-19.15%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

11.21%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.54%

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

$264 $264

$190 $190

38.61%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$30.24 $30.24

103.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$55.6 $55.6

35.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.65 $42.65

82.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$8.98 $8.98

79.40%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,204 $1,204

83.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$15.7K $15.7K

84.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$50.3 $50.3

37.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$40.78 $40.78

31.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$87.3 $87.3

36.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$112 $112

26.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,038 $2,038

15.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,506 $1,506

21.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,613 $2,613

79.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,247 $2,247

58.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$2,993 $2,993

151.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,227 $2,227

126.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$1,976 $1,976

227.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,038 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 228% 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 $80.0 in Lihue, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $542 per month, with Lihue, HI 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 Lihue, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lihue, HI wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lihue, HI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 228% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $2,038 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,124 in Lihue, HI – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 89% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lihue, HI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lihue, HI delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,124 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lihue, HI hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lihue, HI 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 Lihue, HI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.