Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Mankato, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Mankato, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,007 in Mankato, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,064 in Mankato, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,120 in Mankato, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 81% more expensive than Mankato, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Mankato, MN 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$15.94 $15.94

55.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$68.6 $68.6

72.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.97 $9.97

38.21%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.09 $5.09

10.22%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.06 $2.06

40.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.62 $1.62

51.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.98 $4.98

59.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.86 $5.86

40.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.91 $0.91

52.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.44 $2.44

99.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.22 $2.22

132.43%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.43 $3.43

92.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$8.30 $8.30

201.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.94 $14.94

5.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$16.99 $16.99

19.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.53 $4.53

37.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.63 $1.63

68.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$3.57 $3.57

49.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$3.61 $3.61

79.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.22 $4.22

-26.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.96 $2.96

30.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.28 $2.28

20.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.97 $1.97

29.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$11.83 $11.83

-4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.73 $14.73

5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.68 $1.68

69.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.31 $4.31

-1.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.94 $1.94

38.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.96 $1.96

31.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.43 $1.43

20.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$20.23 $20.23

49.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.80 $0.80

43.75%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

27.30%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

6.99%

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

$263 $263

$130 $130

101.89%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.1 $52.1

15.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$76.1 $76.1

-2.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$40.09 $40.09

101.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$15.27 $15.27

4.19%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,351 $1,351

68.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$11.8K $11.8K

153.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$62.5 $62.5

12.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$35.51 $35.51

51.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$71.7 $71.7

66.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$141 $141

1.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$990 $990

133.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$883 $883

107.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,656 $2,656

76.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,500 $1,500

132.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$1,626 $1,626

401.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$1,617 $1,617

221.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,981 $3,981

64.87%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mankato, MN: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $990 in Mankato, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 65% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Mankato, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $369 per month, with Mankato, MN 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 Mankato, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Mankato, MN differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,007 including rent). Mankato, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 65% 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $990 in Mankato, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,007 in Mankato, MN – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,007 in Mankato, MN versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mankato, MN but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Mankato, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Mankato, MN 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 Mankato, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.