Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Melbourne, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Melbourne, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,935 in Melbourne, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,015 in Melbourne, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,094 in Melbourne, FL, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 23% more than Melbourne, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Melbourne, FL sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Melbourne, FL by 119%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$25.38 $25.38

-2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$73.8 $73.8

59.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.97 $9.97

38.11%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.87 $4.87

17.25%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.63 $2.63

15.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.09 $2.09

19.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.94 $5.94

31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.40 $6.40

23.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.89 $0.89

51.69%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.72 $3.72

36.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.74 $2.74

96.72%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.94 $3.94

73.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.63 $11.63

115.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.43 $8.43

88.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.53 $14.53

41.71%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.80 $4.80

27.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.49 $1.49

89.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.64 $3.64

51.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.17 $5.17

30.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.59 $2.59

21.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.39 $3.39

12.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.28 $2.28

17.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.10 $2.10

25.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.31 $9.31

25.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.40 $15.40

1.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.72 $1.72

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.80 $2.80

51.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.83 $3.83

-26.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$42.31 $42.31

136.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.57 $4.57

-43.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.64 $0.64

168.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$22.19 $22.19

36.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.84 $0.84

41.67%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

38.20%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.12%

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

$263 $263

$173 $173

52.07%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$55.8 $55.8

9.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$64.4 $64.4

17.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$70.4 $70.4

13.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$2.03 $2.03

1865.02%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.96 $12.96

25.54%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$910 $910

150.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$15.8K $15.8K

85.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$47.09 $47.09

45.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$45.86 $45.86

13.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.3 $86.3

34.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$93.8 $93.8

53.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,625 $1,625

43.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,607 $1,607

15.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,018 $3,018

53.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,293 $2,293

51.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,493 $2,493

211.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,482 $2,482

110.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,643 $3,643

81.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Melbourne, FL: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,625 in Melbourne, FL. 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 82% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $74.0 in Melbourne, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $361 – making Melbourne, FL 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 Melbourne, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 23%, 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 $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,403 in Melbourne, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Melbourne, FL, 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,935 in Melbourne, FL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 137% less in Melbourne, FL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,935 in Melbourne, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

If budget matters most, go with Melbourne, FL. 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.