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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,262 in Montgomery, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,101 in Montgomery, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $3,940 in Montgomery, AL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 72% more expensive than in Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Montgomery, AL 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$16.61 $16.61

50.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$64.3 $64.3

55.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.96 $9.96

51.20%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.73 $4.73

34.67%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.47 $2.47

24.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.12 $2.12

41.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.13 $4.13

88.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.75 $4.75

72.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.89 $0.89

35.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.56 $3.56

40.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$2.02 $2.02

216.34%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.58 $4.58

11.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$4.87 $4.87

332.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$7.39 $7.39

148.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.26 $17.26

39.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.62 $4.62

27.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.22 $1.22

54.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.70 $2.70

95.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$3.91 $3.91

65.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.16 $3.16

16.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.78 $2.78

20.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.09 $2.09

33.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.56 $2.56

0.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.14 $9.14

52.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.06 $15.06

-0.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.74 $1.74

145.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.28 $4.28

36.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.95 $1.95

49.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.08 $3.08

-16.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.46 $2.46

-30.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$39.94 $39.94

-23.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.79 $0.79

77.22%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$29.3K $29.3K

23.19%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

-12.93%

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

$299 $299

0.03%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$54.2 $54.2

28.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$89.2 $89.2

-1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$38.06 $38.06

110.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$9.91 $9.91

78.61%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,293 $1,293

133.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$10.0K $10.0K

209.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$61.9 $61.9

24.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$25.34 $25.34

117.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$74.7 $74.7

71.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$124 $124

29.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,263 $1,263

97.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,016 $1,016

90.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,597 $1,597

197.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,336 $1,336

172.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,390 $1,390

445.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,415 $1,415

261.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,610 $3,610

72.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.15

4.88%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Montgomery, AL: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,263 in Montgomery, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 72% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $64.0 in Montgomery, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $337 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 72% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,262 including rent). Montgomery, AL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 72% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,263 in Montgomery, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,262 in Montgomery, AL – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,262 in Montgomery, AL versus $3,880 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 72% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.