Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Minot, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Minot, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,918 in Minot, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,457 in Minot, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,996 in Minot, ND, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 89% more than Minot, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Minot, ND sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Minot, ND by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$15.79 $15.79

58.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$73.6 $73.6

60.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$12.70 $12.70

8.35%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$7.89 $7.89

-25.86%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.68 $2.68

13.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.30 $2.30

3.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.42 $5.42

46.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.91 $6.91

13.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.02 $1.02

36.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.21 $3.21

51.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.25 $3.25

59.38%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.86 $4.86

37.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$12.11 $12.11

108.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.56 $11.56

37.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$23.35 $23.35

-13.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.47 $4.47

38.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.04 $2.04

41.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.65 $3.65

50.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.48 $4.48

42.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.37 $3.37

-8.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.87 $3.87

-1.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.93 $2.93

-4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.69 $2.69

-2.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$8.40 $8.40

35.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.18 $15.18

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.78 $1.78

67.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.41 $3.41

24.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.54 $3.54

-24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.64 $1.64

3.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.35 $29.35

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.86 $0.86

32.56%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.0K $29.0K

14.90%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

5.28%

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

$261 $261

$209 $209

24.80%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$51.9 $51.9

16.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$77.5 $77.5

-2.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.23 $42.23

86.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.31 $13.31

18.86%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,028 $1,028

115.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.1K $23.1K

28.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$35.43 $35.43

97.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$63.5 $63.5

-18.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$98.4 $98.4

18.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$112 $112

24.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$934 $934

148.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$661 $661

182.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,768 $1,768

167.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,254 $2,254

58.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$1,608 $1,608

375.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$1,604 $1,604

213.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,256 $4,256

53.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

5.63

14.03%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Minot, ND: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $934 in Minot, ND. 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 53% 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 Minot, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $418 – making Minot, ND 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 Minot, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA, $1,918 in Minot, ND – roughly 89% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,877 in Minot, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Minot, ND, 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $1,918 in Minot, ND. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,028 in Minot, ND. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Minot, ND, where all-in costs run around $1,918, than in Seattle, WA at $3,621. In Minot, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,918 in Minot, ND to $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Minot, ND. 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.