Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Mountain Home, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Mountain Home, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,531 in Mountain Home, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,740 in Mountain Home, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,950 in Mountain Home, ID.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 54% more expensive than in Mountain Home, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Mountain Home, ID 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$22.11 $22.11

14.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$77.8 $77.8

29.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.28 $10.28

43.97%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$6.01 $6.01

10.32%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.76 $2.76

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.22 $2.22

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.84 $6.84

16.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.03 $8.03

-1.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.06 $1.06

15.09%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.41 $3.41

50.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.48 $4.48

37.50%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.19 $4.19

21.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$12.20 $12.20

74.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$11.16 $11.16

65.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$16.98 $16.98

35.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.06 $5.06

19.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.59 $1.59

18.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.54 $4.54

14.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.69 $4.69

35.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.91 $2.91

29.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.97 $2.97

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.16 $2.16

32.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.21 $2.21

20.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.96 $9.96

39.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.98 $14.98

0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.92 $1.92

117.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.20 $3.20

76.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.23 $2.23

33.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.77 $2.77

-7.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.88 $1.88

-12.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$32.34 $32.34

-8.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.08 $1.08

35.19%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$31.2K $31.2K

15.57%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.1K $29.1K

-12.43%

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

$306 $306

$200 $200

53.17%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$56.7 $56.7

23.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$69.1 $69.1

26.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$38.51 $38.51

107.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.66 $15.66

13.98%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,231 $1,231

145.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

22.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$56.3 $56.3

36.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$41.43 $41.43

29.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$90.8 $90.8

38.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$130 $130

24.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,604 $1,604

53.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,171 $1,171

69.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,285 $2,285

113.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,102 $2,102

72.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$3,093 $3,093

138.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,408 $2,408

107.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

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 7, 2026

Last update for Mountain Home, ID: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,604 in Mountain Home, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $78.0 in Mountain Home, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $395 per month, with Mountain Home, ID 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 Mountain Home, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mountain Home, ID is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,829 in Seattle, WA and $3,796 in Mountain Home, ID to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,604 in Mountain Home, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,531 in Mountain Home, ID – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Mountain Home, ID 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 Mountain Home, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.