Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Milton, DE Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Milton, DE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,592 in Milton, DE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,888 in Milton, DE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $5,184 in Milton, DE.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than Milton, DE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Milton, DE 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$18.74 $18.74

33.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$74.5 $74.5

60.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.02 $11.02

26.13%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.03 $5.03

10.54%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.52 $2.52

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.05 $2.05

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.82 $5.82

36.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.83 $6.83

17.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.42 $3.42

47.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.26 $4.26

25.82%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.30 $4.30

53.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$12.24 $12.24

106.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.51 $11.51

40.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.39 $15.39

31.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.06 $5.06

17.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.62 $1.62

69.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.28 $4.28

25.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.85 $4.85

36.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.78 $2.78

16.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.92 $2.92

29.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.02 $2.02

35.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.11 $2.11

19.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.34 $9.34

21.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$14.70 $14.70

10.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.80 $1.80

58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.33 $3.33

24.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$59.3 $59.3

63.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.56 $3.56

-23.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.57 $1.57

10.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$28.96 $28.96

1.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.83 $0.83

44.58%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$30.0K $30.0K

12.01%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.27%

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

$266 $266

$184 $184

44.75%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$51.8 $51.8

16.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$67.1 $67.1

13.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$43.74 $43.74

80.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$40.06 $40.06

1.12%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.57 $13.57

19.53%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,280 $1,280

78.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.8K $23.8K

24.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$50.5 $50.5

37.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$39.59 $39.59

32.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$86.2 $86.2

38.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$112 $112

27.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,620 $1,620

46.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,339 $1,339

39.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,667 $2,667

77.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,252 $2,252

55.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,742 $2,742

181.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,332 $2,332

130.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,969 $3,969

63.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Milton, DE: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,620 in Milton, DE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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 $74 in Milton, DE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $388 per month, with Milton, DE 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 Milton, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Milton, DE is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,620 in Milton, DE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Milton, DE – a meal for two runs $74.0 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 $2,500. Milton, DE is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Milton, DE is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Milton, DE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Milton, DE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.