Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Maui, HI

For one person, living is cheaper in Seattle, WA: $3,762 a month against $4,790 in Maui, HI, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

182

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
228

Cost of Living Index in Maui, HI
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Maui, HI Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,762

/mo nomad

Maui, HI

🇺🇸 United States

$4,790

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Maui, HI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Maui, HI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,762 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,790 in Maui, HI, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,762
Maui, HI $4,790

A couple spends around $5,651 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,634 in Maui, HI, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,651
Maui, HI $6,634

A family of three spends $7,541 per month in Seattle, WA vs $8,478 in Maui, HI, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,541
Maui, HI $8,478

Seattle, WA is about 21% cheaper than Maui, HI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Maui, HI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Maui, HI by 254%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.80 $23.80

$34.42 $34.42

-30.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$119 $119

-17.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.94 $14.94

$14.73 $14.73

1.43%

Cappuccino

$6.79 $6.79

$6.77 $6.77

0.30%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$3.04 $3.04

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.80 $2.80

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.08 $8.08

1.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.87 $8.87

-11.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$2.23 $2.23

-47.53%

White Bread (500g)

$5.29 $5.29

$8.72 $8.72

-39.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$8.77 $8.77

-34.32%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$8.60 $8.60

-43.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.25 $20.25

$27.50 $27.50

-26.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

$15.36 $15.36

16.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.35 $23.35

$22.11 $22.11

5.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$10.03 $10.03

-40.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.14 $2.14

-11.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$10.09 $10.09

-46.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$8.00 $8.00

-17.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$6.74 $6.74

-49.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$7.83 $7.83

-63.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$5.09 $5.09

-43.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.61 $3.61

-32.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$17.25 $17.25

-29.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$20.28 $20.28

-24.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.76 $1.76

148.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$7.79 $7.79

-24.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.77 $2.77

6.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$101 $101

8.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$10.06 $10.06

-74.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.89 $0.89

93.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.34 $1.34

12.69%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$36.9K $36.9K

-1.98%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$34.1K $34.1K

-24.71%

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

$289 $289

$395 $395

-26.90%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$61.2 $61.2

12.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$74.6 $74.6

13.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$29.97 $29.97

131.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.05 $35.05

Cinema Ticket

$17.97 $17.97

$14.80 $14.80

21.42%

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

$2,819 $2,819

$1,666 $1,666

69.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.9K $43.9K

$17.1K $17.1K

156.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.2 $91.2

$90.8 $90.8

0.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$56.0 $56.0

-1.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$129 $129

-1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$198 $198

-18.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,579 $2,579

$2,646 $2,646

-2.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 $1,943

$2,665 $2,665

-27.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,100 $5,100

$4,531 $4,531

12.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,541 $3,541

$3,798 $3,798

-6.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,357 $7,357

$14.5K $14.5K

-49.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,921 $4,921

$9,280 $9,280

-46.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,448 $6,448

$5,578 $5,578

15.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

6.52

4.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Maui, HI: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.6%

Maui, HI

$2.7K 55.6% 37.2% $722

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$544 14.5%

Maui, HI

$713 14.9% 31% $169

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$443 11.8%

Maui, HI

$531 11.1% 19.9% $88

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$399 10.6%

Maui, HI

$482 10.1% 20.9% $83

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$196 5.2%

Maui, HI

$213 4.5% 9% $18

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$132 3.5%

Maui, HI

$127 2.6% 4.2% $5.5

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$105 2.8%

Maui, HI

$60 1.2% 43.5% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,579 in Seattle, WA versus $2,646 in Maui, HI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Seattle, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99 in Seattle, WA versus $119 in Maui, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $713 – making Seattle, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Maui, HI

🕒 Local time

05:32 5:32 AM

03:32 3:32 AM

2 h behind Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

6,452

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Seattle, WA Maui, HI 4,260 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Maui, HI

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maui, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,762 in Seattle, WA, $4,790 in Maui, HI – Seattle, WA comes out roughly 21% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,642 per month in Seattle, WA and $7,185 in Maui, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,579 in Seattle, WA and $2,646 in Maui, HI. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $2,819 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,666 in Maui, HI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Maui, HI, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,762 in Seattle, WA and $4,790 in Maui, HI. 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 $3,762 in Seattle, WA to $4,790 in Maui, HI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.