๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,604 in New Castle, PA.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,829 in New Castle, PA.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,054 in New Castle, PA.
๐Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 41% more expensive than New Castle, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA173% above, New Castle, PA94% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.32$25.32
$19.09$19.09
32.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121$121
$76.5$76.5
58.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.11$14.11
$10.82$10.82
30.41%
Cappuccino
$5.82$5.82
$5.21$5.21
11.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98$2.98
$2.47$2.47
20.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$2.04$2.04
17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.73$7.73
$5.99$5.99
29.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87$7.87
$6.82$6.82
15.40%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34$1.34
$1.06$1.06
26.42%
White Bread(500g)
$4.91$4.91
$3.47$3.47
41.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.14$5.14
$4.44$4.44
15.77%
Eggs
$6.57$6.57
$4.27$4.27
53.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.64$24.64
$11.47$11.47
114.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.88$15.88
$12.82$12.82
23.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.14$20.14
$15.59$15.59
29.19%
Apples(1kg)
$6.27$6.27
$6.03$6.03
3.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$1.58$1.58
81.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.29$5.29
$4.28$4.28
23.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.39$6.39
$4.77$4.77
33.96%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21$3.21
$2.78$2.78
15.47%
Onion(1kg)
$3.83$3.83
$2.90$2.90
32.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74$2.74
$2.12$2.12
29.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$2.18$2.18
18.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64$11.64
$9.45$9.45
23.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.77$15.77
$14.92$14.92
5.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$1.84$1.84
56.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39$4.39
$3.40$3.40
29.12%
๐ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.76$2.76
$2.02$2.02
36.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.8$98.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67$2.67
$3.43$3.43
-22.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70$1.70
$1.59$1.59
6.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.74$29.74
$28.63$28.63
3.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14$1.14
$0.83$0.83
37.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K$32.9K
$29.4K$29.4K
12.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$25.7K$25.7K
1.09%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$268$268
$186$186
44.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.9$60.9
$53.0$53.0
14.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2$76.2
$66.5$66.5
14.62%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.1$78.1
$42.90$42.90
81.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.15$40.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.82$15.82
$13.74$13.74
15.14%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,252$2,252
$1,316$1,316
71.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.7K$29.7K
$23.7K$23.7K
25.18%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8$70.8
$51.0$51.0
38.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1$53.1
$40.03$40.03
32.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117$117
$85.4$85.4
37.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139$139
$111$111
25.27%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,310$2,310
$1,584$1,584
45.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,849$1,849
$1,364$1,364
35.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,739$4,739
$2,623$2,623
80.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,556$3,556
$2,230$2,230
59.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,775$7,775
$2,745$2,745
183.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,351$5,351
$2,396$2,396
123.32%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
New Castle, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,575$6,575
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.51
-1.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026
Last update for New Castle, PA: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,584 in New Castle, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $76 in New Castle, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $401 per month, with New Castle, PA 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 New Castle, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Castle, PA cheaper than Seattle, WA?
New Castle, PA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,906 in New Castle, PA 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.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and New Castle, PA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,584 in New Castle, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,316 in New Castle, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Seattle, WA or New Castle, PA?
Dining out is cheaper in New Castle, PA โ a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Seattle, WA or New Castle, PA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. New Castle, PA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Seattle, WA or New Castle, PA more family-friendly?
For families, New Castle, PA 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find New Castle, PA gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 41% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Seattle, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared