Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Nampa, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Nampa, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,203 in Nampa, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,129 in Nampa, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,055 in Nampa, ID.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 63% more expensive than Nampa, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Nampa, ID 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$14.81 $14.81

68.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$64.2 $64.2

85.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.27 $9.27

49.95%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.60 $4.60

20.87%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.54 $2.54

20.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.21 $2.21

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.46 $5.46

45.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$5.07 $5.07

57.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.04 $3.04

66.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.11 $4.11

30.41%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.92 $3.92

68.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$12.75 $12.75

98.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$7.45 $7.45

117.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$13.25 $13.25

53.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.02 $5.02

18.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.28 $1.28

114.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.80 $3.80

41.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.77 $4.77

38.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.45 $2.45

32.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.17 $2.17

74.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.94 $1.94

40.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.09 $8.09

39.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$6.97 $6.97

133.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.77 $1.77

61.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.58 $2.58

61.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.23 $2.23

21.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.47 $1.47

17.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$24.11 $24.11

22.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.00 $1.00

20.00%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$34.1K $34.1K

-1.58%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.64%

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

$266 $266

$136 $136

96.16%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$50.4 $50.4

20.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$73.4 $73.4

3.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$35.28 $35.28

124.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$9.98 $9.98

62.53%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,247 $1,247

82.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.5K $23.5K

25.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$53.2 $53.2

30.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$33.39 $33.39

57.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$81.2 $81.2

47.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$62.0 $62.0

130.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,142 $1,142

108.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,155 $1,155

61.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,200 $2,200

114.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$1,749 $1,749

100.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,067 $3,067

111.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nampa, ID: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,142 in Nampa, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 112% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $64.0 in Nampa, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $330 per month, with Nampa, 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 Nampa, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Nampa, ID differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($3,583 vs $2,203 including rent). Nampa, ID is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 112% more on average, 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,142 in Nampa, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,203 in Nampa, ID – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,203 in Nampa, ID versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nampa, ID but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Nampa, ID 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 Nampa, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.