Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Montgomery, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Montgomery, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $1,937 in Montgomery, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,676 in Montgomery, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,415 in Montgomery, AL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 86% more expensive than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Montgomery, AL 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$20.39 $20.39

21.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$52.4 $52.4

124.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.16 $11.16

23.39%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.20 $5.20

9.81%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.43 $2.43

25.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.08 $2.08

20.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.22 $4.22

85.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$4.09 $4.09

92.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.89 $0.89

51.69%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.53 $1.53

230.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.49 $2.49

116.47%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.56 $3.56

92.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.00 $7.00

258.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.03 $8.03

97.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.69 $14.69

40.16%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.20 $5.20

18.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.37 $1.37

105.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.25 $2.25

144.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.46 $3.46

94.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.15 $2.15

46.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.89 $1.89

102.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.07 $2.07

29.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.21 $1.21

118.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$6.91 $6.91

68.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.85 $13.85

13.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.69 $1.69

73.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.46 $1.46

190.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.45 $3.45

-24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.21 $1.21

42.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.63 $29.63

1.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.75 $0.75

58.67%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

9.90%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.48%

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

$263 $263

$298 $298

-11.76%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$50.4 $50.4

20.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$65.2 $65.2

16.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$38.09 $38.09

108.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$9.92 $9.92

64.01%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,309 $1,309

74.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$10.1K $10.1K

188.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$55.4 $55.4

23.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$24.99 $24.99

107.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$69.6 $69.6

66.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$140 $140

2.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,246 $1,246

87.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$752 $752

147.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,596 $1,596

189.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$938 $938

270.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,373 $1,373

465.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,393 $1,393

275.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,641 $3,641

81.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Montgomery, AL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,246 in Montgomery, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 82% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $52.0 in Montgomery, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $286 per month, with Montgomery, AL 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 Montgomery, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Montgomery, AL differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $1,937 including rent). Montgomery, AL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 82% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,246 in Montgomery, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,937 in Montgomery, AL – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,937 in Montgomery, AL versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Montgomery, AL but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Montgomery, AL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Montgomery, AL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.