Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Madison, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Madison, WI

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 27% more expensive than Madison, WI without rent, and 27.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 31.9% more expensive than Madison, WI without rent, and 39.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.58 $24.58

$14.97 $14.97

64.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$73.7 $73.7

61.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.21 $14.21

$10.91 $10.91

30.25%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.29 $5.29

6.05%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$2.73 $2.73

10.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.28 $2.28

5.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.61 $7.61

$6.10 $6.10

24.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.07 $7.07

14.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.86 $0.86

58.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.82 $4.82

$3.72 $3.72

29.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.32 $5.32

0.38%

Eggs

$6.82 $6.82

$3.97 $3.97

71.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.08 $25.08

$14.14 $14.14

77.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$13.42 $13.42

20.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.50 $20.50

$16.44 $16.44

24.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$4.57 $4.57

35.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.53 $1.53

88.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$5.90 $5.90

-9.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.80 $4.80

36.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.70 $2.70

18.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.03 $3.03

24.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.02 $2.02

39.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.06 $2.06

23.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.60 $11.60

$9.84 $9.84

17.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.70 $16.70

$15.58 $15.58

7.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.36 $2.36

26.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.80 $4.80

-9.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.03 $2.03

39.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.5 $99.5

$60.9 $60.9

63.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.41 $4.41

-39.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.15 $2.15

-23.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.48 $30.48

$41.52 $41.52

-26.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.89 $0.89

29.21%

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

$33.0K $33.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

34.14%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.37%

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

$270 $270

$216 $216

25.12%

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

$61.9 $61.9

$51.0 $51.0

21.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$73.9 $73.9

1.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.5 $80.5

$64.3 $64.3

25.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.95 $40.95

$30.48 $30.48

34.35%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$15.14 $15.14

5.09%

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

$2,264 $2,264

$1,603 $1,603

41.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K $29.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

21.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$66.8 $66.8

3.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$49.23 $49.23

7.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$102 $102

15.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$133 $133

8.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 $2,307

$1,716 $1,716

34.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,878 $1,878

$1,443 $1,443

30.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,573 $4,573

$3,100 $3,100

47.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,483 $3,483

$2,515 $2,515

38.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,779 $7,779

$4,377 $4,377

77.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,269 $5,269

$2,489 $2,489

111.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,536 $6,536

$4,275 $4,275

52.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: February 28, 2026

Last update for Madison, WI: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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