Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and McKinney, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and McKinney, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,614 in McKinney, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,692 in McKinney, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,771 in McKinney, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than McKinney, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, McKinney, TX 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$16.83 $16.83

47.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$74.6 $74.6

58.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.24 $9.24

49.13%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.38 $5.38

4.28%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.63 $2.63

9.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.98 $1.98

24.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.12 $6.12

30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.04 $8.04

2.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.08 $1.08

28.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.85 $2.85

70.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.98 $3.98

29.65%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.92 $4.92

34.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$11.36 $11.36

120.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.53 $14.53

8.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$15.91 $15.91

27.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.62 $4.62

34.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.61 $1.61

70.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.15 $4.15

28.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.41 $4.41

47.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.60 $3.60

-14.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.19 $2.19

76.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.01 $2.01

36.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.98 $2.98

-14.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$9.46 $9.46

19.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$11.62 $11.62

33.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.83 $1.83

55.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.05 $3.05

39.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.82 $2.82

-8.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.29 $1.29

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.86 $29.86

1.04%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

10.04%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.4K $26.4K

0.28%

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

$263 $263

$187 $187

41.03%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$60.3 $60.3

-0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$81.5 $81.5

-8.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$34.69 $34.69

132.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$15.07 $15.07

5.57%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,359 $1,359

67.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$53.6 $53.6

30.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$28.04 $28.04

91.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$104 $104

14.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$110 $110

30.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,698 $1,698

36.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,409 $1,409

29.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$3,329 $3,329

41.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,935 $1,935

80.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,342 $2,342

248.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,318 $2,318

124.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$5,667 $5,667

15.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for McKinney, TX: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,698 in McKinney, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 16% 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 $75.0 in McKinney, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $398 per month, with McKinney, TX 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 McKinney, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and McKinney, TX differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,614 including rent). McKinney, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 16% 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 $1,698 in McKinney, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,359 in McKinney, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in McKinney, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. McKinney, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find McKinney, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.