Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Los Alamos, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Los Alamos, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,500 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,623 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,747 in Los Alamos, NM, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 44% more than Los Alamos, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Los Alamos, NM sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Los Alamos, NM by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.21 $17.21

44.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$58.9 $58.9

99.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.11 $10.11

36.20%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.34 $5.34

6.93%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.28 $2.28

33.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.46 $1.46

71.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.94 $5.94

31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.85 $5.85

34.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.88 $0.88

53.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.25 $2.25

124.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.22 $3.22

67.39%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.11 $4.11

66.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.61 $12.61

98.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.18 $10.18

55.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.60 $17.60

16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.75 $4.75

29.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.39 $1.39

102.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.01 $3.01

83.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.38 $4.38

53.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.13 $1.13

178.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.44 $2.44

56.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.93 $1.93

39.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$0.48 $0.48

450.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.89 $9.89

17.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.93 $13.93

12.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.79 $1.79

63.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.77 $2.77

53.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.05 $2.05

37.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.39 $3.39

-23.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.88 $1.88

-8.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.95 $28.95

4.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.79 $0.79

50.63%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$31.3K $31.3K

4.56%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.31%

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

$263 $263

$170 $170

54.76%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$40.70 $40.70

49.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$68.7 $68.7

10.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.60 $43.60

82.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.98 $13.98

16.38%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,222 $1,222

86.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$5,997 $5,997

388.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$20.18 $20.18

239.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$50.4 $50.4

3.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$96.1 $96.1

20.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

27.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,110 $1,110

110.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,359 $1,359

37.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,918 $1,918

141.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,259 $2,259

53.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$3,375 $3,375

130.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$3,377 $3,377

54.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$8,240 $8,240

-19.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,110 in Los Alamos, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $59.0 in Los Alamos, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $332 – making Los Alamos, NM the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Los Alamos, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,750 in Los Alamos, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Alamos, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,500 in Los Alamos, NM. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,222 in Los Alamos, NM. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $2,500, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Los Alamos, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Alamos, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Los Alamos, NM. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.