Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Montpelier, VT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Montpelier, VT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,303 in Montpelier, VT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,516 in Montpelier, VT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,728 in Montpelier, VT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 68% more than Montpelier, VT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Montpelier, VT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 184%, Montpelier, VT by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.59 $20.59

21.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$79.4 $79.4

25.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.40 $10.40

44.81%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.11 $4.11

54.99%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.63 $2.63

17.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.46 $1.46

105.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.42 $7.42

5.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.85 $6.85

19.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.29 $1.29

-6.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.99 $3.99

25.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.26 $4.26

50.00%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.99 $4.99

2.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$17.60 $17.60

19.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.85 $12.85

43.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.30 $17.30

38.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.08 $6.08

-3.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.61 $1.61

16.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.69 $4.69

12.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.55 $4.55

42.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.65 $1.65

123.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.64 $2.64

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.15 $1.15

142.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.04 $3.04

-15.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$14.14 $14.14

-1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$11.98 $11.98

25.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.75 $1.75

144.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.04 $2.04

187.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$6.03 $6.03

-57.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$4.94 $4.94

-65.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.98 $0.98

42.86%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.7K $36.7K

-1.70%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.68%

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

$299 $299

$194 $194

54.39%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$68.5 $68.5

1.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$51.8 $51.8

69.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$11.81 $11.81

49.87%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$831 $831

263.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$32.8K $32.8K

-5.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$39.44 $39.44

96.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$30.08 $30.08

83.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$52.2 $52.2

146.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$80.9 $80.9

96.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,440 $1,440

72.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,106 $1,106

74.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,383 $2,383

99.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,002 $2,002

81.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Montpelier, VT: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,440 in Montpelier, VT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA versus $79.0 in Montpelier, VT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $428 – making Montpelier, VT 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 Montpelier, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 68% more than Montpelier, VT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,455 in Montpelier, VT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montpelier, VT, 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 $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $2,303 in Montpelier, VT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,020 per month in Seattle, WA and $831 in Montpelier, VT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montpelier, VT, where all-in costs run around $2,303, than in Seattle, WA at $3,880. In Montpelier, VT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montpelier, VT costs $2,303 versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Montpelier, VT. 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.