Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lima, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lima, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,450 in Lima, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,411 in Lima, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,371 in Lima, OH.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Lima, OH 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$15.03 $15.03

66.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$49.33 $49.33

102.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.17 $10.17

48.08%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.86 $4.86

31.07%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.24 $2.24

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.92 $1.92

56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.37 $5.37

45.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.71 $7.71

6.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.56 $0.56

116.07%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.33 $3.33

49.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.12 $4.12

55.10%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$2.99 $2.99

71.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$9.07 $9.07

132.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$10.98 $10.98

67.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.28 $16.28

47.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.39 $4.39

34.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.12 $1.12

67.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.30 $4.30

23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.43 $4.43

46.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.26 $2.26

62.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.17 $2.17

54.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.02 $2.02

38.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.93 $1.93

33.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$10.57 $10.57

31.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.28 $15.28

-1.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.09 $2.09

104.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$1.99 $1.99

194.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.95 $1.95

49.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$43.11 $43.11

152.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.64 $3.64

-29.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.22 $1.22

40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$24.76 $24.76

22.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.91 $0.91

53.85%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.6K $35.6K

1.36%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.8K $23.8K

6.99%

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

$299 $299

$149 $149

100.62%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$76.0 $76.0

-8.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$69.4 $69.4

26.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$41.47 $41.47

93.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$48.02 $48.02

-27.26%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.45 $14.45

22.49%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,486 $1,486

103.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$19.8K $19.8K

56.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$45.36 $45.36

70.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$44.96 $44.96

22.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$81.7 $81.7

57.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$106 $106

49.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,269 $1,269

96.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,254 $1,254

53.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,184 $2,184

117.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,828 $1,828

99.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,433 $1,433

429.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,412 $1,412

261.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$5,237 $5,237

18.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.21

3.86%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lima, OH: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,269 in Lima, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 19% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $49.00 in Lima, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $354 per month, with Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Lima, OH differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,450 including rent). Lima, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,269 in Lima, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Lima, OH – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,450 in Lima, OH versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lima, OH but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Lima, OH 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH 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.