Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Mount Vernon, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,924 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $4,135 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,346 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 33% more expensive than in Mount Vernon, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Mount Vernon, WA 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$23.84 $23.84

6.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$59.0 $59.0

71.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.82 $14.82

-0.13%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$6.33 $6.33

4.74%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.28 $2.28

35.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.62 $1.62

82.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.89 $6.89

15.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.94 $7.94

-0.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.20 $1.20

1.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.21 $4.21

22.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$6.33 $6.33

-2.69%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.93 $4.93

3.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.17 $11.17

90.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$6.74 $6.74

173.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$8.28 $8.28

178.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.93 $1.93

-2.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.14 $5.14

1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$6.50 $6.50

-2.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.80 $3.80

-0.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.94 $1.94

70.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.77 $2.77

3.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.95 $1.95

36.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$6.03 $6.03

130.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.90 $14.90

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.82 $2.82

47.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.46 $2.46

129.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$30.12 $30.12

256.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.64 $1.64

0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$29.55 $29.55

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.16 $1.16

25.86%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.65%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$19.5K $19.5K

30.18%

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

$306 $306

$217 $217

41.21%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$44.80 $44.80

56.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$69.2 $69.2

26.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$70.9 $70.9

12.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.39 $13.39

33.31%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$3,023 $3,023

-0.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$31.2K $31.2K

-0.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$39.79 $39.79

92.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$55.8 $55.8

-3.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$79.7 $79.7

57.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$78.2 $78.2

107.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,489 $1,489

64.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,617 $1,617

22.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,540 $2,540

92.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,442 $2,442

48.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$4,009 $4,009

84.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$4,004 $4,004

25.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,878 $3,878

58.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.42

0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mount Vernon, WA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,489 in Mount Vernon, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $59.0 in Mount Vernon, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $385 per month, with Mount Vernon, WA 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 Mount Vernon, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Vernon, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 59% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,489 in Mount Vernon, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mount Vernon, WA – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Mount Vernon, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Mount Vernon, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mount Vernon, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.