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: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,140 in Nampa, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,100 in Nampa, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,059 in Nampa, ID.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 70% more expensive than Nampa, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Nampa, ID 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$14.98 $14.98

65.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$65.0 $65.0

82.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.11 $9.11

51.26%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.41 $4.41

27.21%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.59 $2.59

11.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.18 $2.18

12.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.57 $5.57

42.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.03 $5.03

63.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.87 $0.87

59.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.03 $3.03

60.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.08 $4.08

26.47%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.79 $3.79

74.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$12.91 $12.91

94.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$7.52 $7.52

109.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$13.17 $13.17

54.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$5.00 $5.00

24.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.29 $1.29

112.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$3.64 $3.64

46.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.93 $4.93

31.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.46 $2.46

25.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.18 $2.18

77.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.98 $1.98

38.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.15 $2.15

18.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$8.18 $8.18

38.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$5.59 $5.59

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.78 $1.78

59.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.54 $2.54

66.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.31 $2.31

11.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.47 $1.47

17.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$24.38 $24.38

23.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.93 $0.93

23.66%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

0.11%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.64%

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

$263 $263

$135 $135

95.08%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$49.14 $49.14

22.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$71.3 $71.3

4.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$35.20 $35.20

129.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$9.82 $9.82

62.02%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,251 $1,251

82.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

27.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$52.8 $52.8

32.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.02 $34.02

58.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$78.2 $78.2

52.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$62.4 $62.4

128.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,134 $1,134

103.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,153 $1,153

58.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,245 $2,245

109.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,764 $1,764

97.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,678 $3,678

78.45%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Nampa, ID: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,134 in Nampa, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 78% 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 $65.0 in Nampa, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $329 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 70% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,140 including rent). Nampa, ID is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 78% 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,134 in Nampa, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,140 in Nampa, ID – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,140 in Nampa, ID versus $3,634 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 70% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.