Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Maple Valley, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Maple Valley, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,735 in Maple Valley, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,941 in Maple Valley, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 45% more than Maple Valley, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Seattle, WA and Maple Valley, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Maple Valley, WA by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$17.72 $17.72

42.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$71.3 $71.3

69.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.42 $10.42

35.41%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.64 $4.64

25.43%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$0.97 $0.97

207.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.83 $2.83

-15.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$3.99 $3.99

93.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.06 $6.06

29.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.67 $3.67

33.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.26 $4.26

20.66%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.21 $4.21

56.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$17.24 $17.24

42.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$10.30 $10.30

54.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$16.79 $16.79

19.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$8.15 $8.15

-23.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.63 $1.63

75.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.35 $4.35

21.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.25 $5.25

21.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.95 $2.95

8.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.75 $2.75

39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.32 $3.32

-22.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$12.61 $12.61

-7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$19.71 $19.71

-19.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.97 $1.97

46.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.60 $4.60

-4.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.98 $4.98

-46.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.77 $0.77

120.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$53.1 $53.1

-43.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.16 $1.16

-1.72%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$34.7K $34.7K

-5.29%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.23%

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

$268 $268

$119 $119

125.80%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$61.5 $61.5

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$88.5 $88.5

-13.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.16 $43.16

80.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$11.20 $11.20

41.25%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,456 $1,456

54.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.6K $23.6K

25.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$51.0 $51.0

38.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$59.5 $59.5

-10.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$90.4 $90.4

29.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$97.0 $97.0

42.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,630 $1,630

41.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,348 $1,348

37.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,936 $2,936

61.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,259 $2,259

57.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,745 $2,745

183.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,415 $2,415

121.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.66

-3.60%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Maple Valley, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,630 in Maple Valley, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $71 in Maple Valley, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $452 – making Maple Valley, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Maple Valley, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA, $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA – roughly 45% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,795 in Maple Valley, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Maple Valley, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,252 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,456 in Maple Valley, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,530 in Maple Valley, WA to $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Maple Valley, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.