Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Moses Lake, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Moses Lake, WA: $2,396 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in Moses Lake, WA
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Moses Lake, WA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Moses Lake, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,396

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Moses Lake, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Moses Lake, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,396 in Moses Lake, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Moses Lake, WA $2,396

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,595 in Moses Lake, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Moses Lake, WA $3,595

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,795 in Moses Lake, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Moses Lake, WA $4,795

Seattle, WA costs about 58% more than Moses Lake, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Moses Lake, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Moses Lake, WA by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$18.18 $18.18

39.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$79.9 $79.9

26.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$12.28 $12.28

20.20%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$4.38 $4.38

48.40%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.94 $2.94

9.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.56 $2.56

22.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.61 $4.61

72.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.16 $8.16

-0.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.74 $0.74

58.11%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.83 $3.83

38.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.08 $4.08

56.86%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$3.50 $3.50

44.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$9.10 $9.10

105.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$11.08 $11.08

68.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$13.45 $13.45

70.11%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.91 $5.91

2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.62 $1.62

20.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.36 $5.36

2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.62 $5.62

16.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.25 $3.25

1.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.91 $2.91

-3.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.17 $2.17

18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$11.66 $11.66

7.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.83 $14.83

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.79 $1.79

134.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.20 $4.20

38.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.99 $1.99

53.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$67.0 $67.0

58.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.48 $2.48

4.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.58 $1.58

3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$30.13 $30.13

-0.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.16 $1.16

21.55%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$31.5K $31.5K

16.71%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.84%

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

$308 $308

$154 $154

99.15%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$70.1 $70.1

-1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$75.7 $75.7

13.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$41.80 $41.80

82.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$11.65 $11.65

54.68%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$1,113 $1,113

146.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$31.1K $31.1K

-1.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$52.7 $52.7

50.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$25.09 $25.09

116.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$46.61 $46.61

172.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$81.4 $81.4

95.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,505 $1,505

66.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,167 $1,167

66.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$2,244 $2,244

128.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,029 $2,029

74.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$2,621 $2,621

181.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,840 $2,840

76.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$9,063 $9,063

-28.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Moses Lake, WA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Moses Lake, WA

$1.2K 48.7% 39.8% $771

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Moses Lake, WA

$390 16.3% 28.8% $157

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Moses Lake, WA

$300 12.5% 35.1% $163

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Moses Lake, WA

$296 12.4% 27.1% $110

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Moses Lake, WA

$93 3.9% 50.9% $96

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Moses Lake, WA

$85 3.6% 33.8% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Moses Lake, WA

$65 2.7% 42.1% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,505 in Moses Lake, WA. 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 40% higher in Moses Lake, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $80 in Moses Lake, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $390 – making Moses Lake, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Moses Lake, WA

🕒 Local time

23:11 11:11 PM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

25,146

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Moses Lake, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 58% more than Moses Lake, WA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,594 in Moses Lake, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Moses Lake, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,505 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Kindergarten costs $2,746 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,113 in Moses Lake, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,396 in Moses Lake, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Moses Lake, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Moses Lake, WA is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 37% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.