Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Medford, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Medford, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,719 in Medford, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,013 in Medford, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,306 in Medford, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than Medford, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Medford, MA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Medford, MA by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$19.08 $19.08

32.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$101 $101

20.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.04 $11.04

27.81%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.71 $5.71

1.93%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.70 $2.70

10.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.11 $2.11

13.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$8.04 $8.04

-3.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$9.10 $9.10

-13.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.27 $1.27

5.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.29 $3.29

49.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.00 $3.00

71.33%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.70 $4.70

39.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$10.67 $10.67

130.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$9.50 $9.50

67.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$20.60 $20.60

-2.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.90 $5.90

6.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.11 $2.11

35.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.70 $5.70

-7.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.84 $5.84

9.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$4.40 $4.40

-27.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.81 $3.81

0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.76 $2.76

-0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.21 $2.21

16.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.04 $11.04

5.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.04 $15.04

4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.10 $2.10

37.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.95 $1.95

125.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.38 $2.38

15.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$91.8 $91.8

7.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.53 $2.53

5.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.71 $1.71

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$28.54 $28.54

4.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.84 $0.84

35.71%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$30.2K $30.2K

8.91%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.12%

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

$268 $268

$193 $193

38.72%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$58.7 $58.7

3.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$65.4 $65.4

16.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.63 $42.63

83.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.59 $14.59

8.43%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,513 $1,513

48.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$28.0K $28.0K

6.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$51.8 $51.8

36.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$32.20 $32.20

65.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$65.7 $65.7

78.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$82.0 $82.0

69.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,588 $1,588

45.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,375 $1,375

34.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,656 $2,656

78.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,209 $2,209

60.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.43

-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medford, MA: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,588 in Medford, MA. 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 $101 in Medford, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $415 – making Medford, MA 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 Medford, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,079 in Medford, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medford, MA, 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 $2,719 in Medford, MA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Medford, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,719 in Medford, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Medford, MA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Medford, MA. 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.