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 25.3% more expensive than Madison, WI without rent, and 27% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 32.1% more expensive than Madison, WI without rent, and 40.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$14.94 $14.94

68.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75 $75

57.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.87 $10.87

27.32%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.3 $5.3

9.43%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.7 $2.7

9.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.28 $2.28

10.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$5.92 $5.92

31.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$6.86 $6.86

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.88 $0.88

52.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.79 $3.79

31.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$5.32 $5.32

0.56%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.07 $4.07

69.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$13.68 $13.68

81.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$13.08 $13.08

20.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$16.17 $16.17

28.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.57 $4.57

32.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.54 $1.54

78.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.8 $5.8

-5.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.81 $4.81

34.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.62 $2.62

18.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.02 $3.02

22.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.95 $1.95

42.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.03 $2.03

24.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.89 $9.89

17.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$12.19 $12.19

40.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.38 $2.38

23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.71 $4.71

-11.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$1.96 $1.96

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$62.4 $62.4

61.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.46 $4.46

-39.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.14 $2.14

-22.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$42.61 $42.61

-29.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.88 $0.88

31.82%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$24.8K $24.8K

34.47%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.01%

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

$271 $271

$217 $217

25.01%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$50.9 $50.9

21.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$73.7 $73.7

2.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$63.6 $63.6

23.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$29.52 $29.52

39.02%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$14.88 $14.88

6.79%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,655 $1,655

35.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$24.1K $24.1K

20.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$67.1 $67.1

3.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$49.04 $49.04

7.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$101 $101

18.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$133 $133

7.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$1,687 $1,687

40.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,459 $1,459

25.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$3,027 $3,027

55.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$2,440 $2,440

42.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$2,925 $2,925

136.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$2,414 $2,414

116.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,398 $4,398

47.18%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Madison, WI: October 27, 2025

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