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: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $3,241 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $5,613 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $7,984 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 20% more expensive than in Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Lihue, HI 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$25.50 $25.50

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$111 $111

-8.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.35 $13.35

10.86%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$6.20 $6.20

6.94%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.74 $3.74

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.47 $2.47

19.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.82 $6.82

16.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.85 $7.85

0.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.87 $1.87

-34.76%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.64 $6.64

-22.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.95 $2.95

108.81%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$10.19 $10.19

-50.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$15.60 $15.60

36.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$15.71 $15.71

17.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$20.08 $20.08

14.74%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.85 $4.85

24.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.22 $3.22

-41.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$8.81 $8.81

-40.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$10.08 $10.08

-36.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$5.00 $5.00

-24.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$6.32 $6.32

-47.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$12.04 $12.04

15.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.66 $15.66

-3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.68 $1.68

148.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$1.68 $1.68

235.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.03 $2.03

46.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$51.3 $51.3

109.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$8.19 $8.19

-68.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.89 $1.89

-12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$15.10 $15.10

95.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.35 $1.35

8.15%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

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

$25.4K $25.4K

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

$306 $306

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

$70.2 $70.2

$29.88 $29.88

134.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$59.4 $59.4

46.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$93.6 $93.6

-14.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$8.99 $8.99

98.55%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,190 $1,190

153.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$15.8K $15.8K

97.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$2,430 $2,430

1.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,976 $1,976

0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$5,289 $5,289

-7.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$4,768 $4,768

-23.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$2,001 $2,001

208.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.25

3.20%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $2,430 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 208% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $111 in Lihue, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $551 vs $523, with Lihue, HI cheaper for home cooking.

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 20% 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 208% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $2,430 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,241 in Lihue, HI – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 109% 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 $3,241 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 20% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.