Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lynnwood, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Lynnwood, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,279 in Lynnwood, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $4,503 in Lynnwood, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $5,727 in Lynnwood, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 8% more expensive than Lynnwood, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Lynnwood, WA 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$20.23 $20.23

24.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$85.8 $85.8

39.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$12.39 $12.39

11.30%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.31 $5.31

5.65%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.46 $2.46

21.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.29 $2.29

9.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.09 $7.09

10.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.98 $7.98

-0.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.19 $1.19

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.36 $4.36

11.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.29 $4.29

23.78%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.93 $4.93

34.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$15.08 $15.08

62.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$15.44 $15.44

3.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$14.85 $14.85

38.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.01 $5.01

21.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.12 $2.12

35.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.68 $4.68

19.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.72 $3.72

81.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.18 $2.18

46.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.15 $2.15

76.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.14 $2.14

27.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.05 $2.05

27.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$12.92 $12.92

-9.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$15.79 $15.79

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.72 $1.72

65.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.45 $3.45

26.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.01 $3.01

-10.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$9.91 $9.91

-73.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.60 $1.60

3.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$28.92 $28.92

3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$35.2K $35.2K

-7.48%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$28.8K $28.8K

-8.29%

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

$264 $264

$178 $178

48.02%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$53.2 $53.2

13.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$71.0 $71.0

7.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.21 $42.21

84.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$18.33 $18.33

-11.67%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$2,119 $2,119

6.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

-0.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$54.5 $54.5

29.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$37.55 $37.55

37.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$96.9 $96.9

22.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$114 $114

25.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$2,128 $2,128

11.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$2,004 $2,004

-5.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,665 $2,665

78.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,720 $2,720

31.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$5,014 $5,014

28.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.61

-2.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Lynnwood, WA: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $2,128 in Lynnwood, WA. 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $86 in Lynnwood, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $426 per month, with Lynnwood, WA 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 Lynnwood, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lynnwood, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lynnwood, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $2,128 in Lynnwood, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,253 in Seattle, WA versus $2,119 in Lynnwood, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lynnwood, WA – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lynnwood, WA 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 Lynnwood, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,279 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lynnwood, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lynnwood, WA 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 Lynnwood, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.