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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,114 in Mankato, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,123 in Mankato, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,132 in Mankato, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 84% more expensive than in Mankato, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Mankato, MN 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.21 $20.21

23.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$69.9 $69.9

42.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.07 $10.07

49.55%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.02 $5.02

26.89%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.12 $2.12

45.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.63 $1.63

84.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$5.10 $5.10

52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.61 $5.61

46.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.91 $0.91

32.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.03 $3.03

64.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.28 $3.28

94.82%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$3.34 $3.34

53.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$8.29 $8.29

153.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.39 $16.39

12.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.89 $16.89

42.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$7.82 $7.82

-24.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.30 $2.30

-18.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$6.57 $6.57

-19.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$3.79 $3.79

70.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.12 $4.12

-10.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.68 $3.68

-8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.49 $2.49

12.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.95 $1.95

32.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.80 $8.80

58.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.06 $15.06

-0.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.75 $1.75

144.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.26 $4.26

37.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.03 $2.03

26.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.21 $1.21

42.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$20.23 $20.23

50.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.89 $0.89

57.30%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.4K $35.4K

2.10%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

1.36%

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

$299 $299

$188 $188

59.25%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.9 $53.9

28.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$78.1 $78.1

12.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$40.74 $40.74

96.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.76 $14.76

19.92%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,394 $1,394

116.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$11.8K $11.8K

162.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$67.3 $67.3

14.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$35.06 $35.06

57.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$77.1 $77.1

66.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$73.7 $73.7

116.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,006 $1,006

147.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$861 $861

124.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,186 $2,186

117.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,437 $1,437

153.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,605 $1,605

372.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,628 $1,628

213.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,434 $4,434

40.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mankato, MN: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,006 in Mankato, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 40% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $70.0 in Mankato, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $422 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 84% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,114 including rent). Mankato, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 40% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,006 in Mankato, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,114 in Mankato, MN – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,114 in Mankato, MN versus $3,880 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 84% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.