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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,453 in Lima, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,828 in Lima, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,204 in Lima, OH.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 49% more expensive than Lima, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Lima, OH 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$20.28 $20.28

24.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$79.5 $79.5

52.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.95 $10.95

28.86%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.91 $4.91

18.53%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.56 $2.56

16.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.20 $2.20

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.66 $5.66

36.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.08 $7.08

11.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.83 $0.83

61.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.11 $3.11

57.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.08 $4.08

25.98%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.14 $3.14

109.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$13.29 $13.29

85.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$14.08 $14.08

12.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$16.20 $16.20

24.32%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.91 $5.91

6.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.31 $1.31

118.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.53 $5.53

-4.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.17 $5.17

23.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.76 $3.76

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.07 $3.07

24.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.17 $2.17

26.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.08 $2.08

24.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.43 $9.43

23.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.78 $14.78

6.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.02 $2.02

42.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.55 $2.55

72.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$42.84 $42.84

130.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.94 $2.94

-9.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.51 $1.51

12.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$26.90 $26.90

10.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$30.3K $30.3K

8.70%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

0.97%

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

$268 $268

$276 $276

-3.00%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$61.2 $61.2

-0.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$69.0 $69.0

10.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$36.75 $36.75

112.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

$34.55 $34.55

16.21%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$11.98 $11.98

32.05%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,251 $1,251

80.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$15.0K $15.0K

97.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$55.1 $55.1

28.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$38.58 $38.58

37.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$80.1 $80.1

46.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$102 $102

35.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$867 $867

166.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,115 $1,115

65.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,672 $2,672

77.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,215 $2,215

60.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$1,431 $1,431

443.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$1,400 $1,400

282.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$5,104 $5,104

28.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Lima, OH: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $867 in Lima, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 29% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $79 in Lima, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $408 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 49% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $2,453 including rent). Lima, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 29% 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $867 in Lima, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% 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 $79.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,453 in Lima, OH versus $3,661 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 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.