Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Midland, TX: $2,065 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Midland, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,065

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Midland, TX

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 Midland, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,065 in Midland, TX, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Midland, TX $2,065

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,941 in Midland, TX, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Midland, TX $2,941

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,818 in Midland, TX, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Midland, TX $3,818

Seattle, WA costs about 83% more than Midland, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Midland, TX sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Midland, TX by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$16.09 $16.09

57.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$54.6 $54.6

84.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$10.03 $10.03

47.16%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.16 $5.16

25.97%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$4.65 $4.65

-30.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.19 $4.19

-25.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$9.89 $9.89

-19.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$12.14 $12.14

-33.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.77 $0.77

51.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.39 $3.39

56.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.49 $4.49

42.54%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$2.98 $2.98

69.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$10.84 $10.84

72.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.12 $1.12

74.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.72 $1.72

62.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.04 $2.04

26.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$11.17 $11.17

11.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.77 $14.77

0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.78 $1.78

135.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.26 $1.26

142.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$37.28 $37.28

184.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.86 $0.86

63.95%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$26.9K $26.9K

36.78%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.39%

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

$308 $308

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

$69.2 $69.2

$53.9 $53.9

28.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$71.2 $71.2

20.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$13.36 $13.36

472.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.37 $12.37

45.68%

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

$2,746 $2,746

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$79.1 $79.1

0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$30.36 $30.36

78.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$148 $148

-14.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$149 $149

6.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,713 $1,713

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,166 $1,166

66.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$2,593 $2,593

97.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$1,784 $1,784

98.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$2,337 $2,337

215.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$1,863 $1,863

168.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$5,445 $5,445

18.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.92

-0.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Midland, TX: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Midland, TX

–

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Midland, TX

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Midland, TX

–

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Midland, TX

–

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Midland, TX

–

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Midland, TX

–

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Midland, TX

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,713 in Midland, TX. 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 19% 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $55 in Midland, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $181 – making Midland, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Midland, TX

🕒 Local time

10:23 10:23 AM

12:23 12:23 PM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

132,524

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Seattle, WA Midland, TX 2,440 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Midland, TX

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 Midland, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 83% more than Midland, TX, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,098 in Midland, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Midland, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,713 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Public transport costs about 65% less in Midland, TX. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 203% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,065 in Midland, TX. 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 $2,065 in Midland, TX to $3,785 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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