Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lowell, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lowell, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,677 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,239 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,800 in Lowell, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 43% more than Lowell, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Lowell, MA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Lowell, MA by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$17.95 $17.95

37.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$69.2 $69.2

43.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$8.83 $8.83

70.89%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.92 $4.92

34.55%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.03 $2.03

54.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.67 $1.67

78.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.91 $4.91

65.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.23 $8.23

-4.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.84 $0.84

39.29%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.18 $2.18

138.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.54 $5.54

15.52%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.06 $4.06

20.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$11.08 $11.08

93.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$8.77 $8.77

111.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.47 $17.47

31.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$2.71 $2.71

113.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.16 $1.16

62.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$6.80 $6.80

-20.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.56 $5.56

13.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.62 $1.62

134.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.42 $4.42

-26.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.03 $3.03

-5.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.30 $2.30

17.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$13.57 $13.57

4.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$13.68 $13.68

10.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.72 $1.72

153.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.13 $4.13

39.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.84 $1.84

66.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$54.6 $54.6

101.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.85 $3.85

-33.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.77 $1.77

-6.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$28.94 $28.94

3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.84 $0.84

64.29%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.5K $37.5K

-2.89%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

-3.68%

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

$296 $296

$185 $185

59.80%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$51.8 $51.8

37.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$67.2 $67.2

30.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$39.62 $39.62

105.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$12.57 $12.57

184.01%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.52 $14.52

26.24%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,373 $1,373

123.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$30.3K $30.3K

0.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$56.1 $56.1

37.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$38.09 $38.09

41.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$81.5 $81.5

56.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$69.0 $69.0

139.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,632 $1,632

48.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,438 $1,438

34.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,740 $3,740

27.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$3,205 $3,205

11.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,538 $3,538

109.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$3,552 $3,552

42.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,018 $4,018

57.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.04

6.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lowell, MA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,632 in Lowell, MA. 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 57% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $69.0 in Lowell, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $371 – making Lowell, MA 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 Lowell, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 43%, 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 $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,016 in Lowell, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 101% less in Lowell, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,067 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,373 in Lowell, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $2,677 in Lowell, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lowell, MA. 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.