Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and New Haven, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and New Haven, CT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,511 in New Haven, CT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,067 in New Haven, CT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,624 in New Haven, CT.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 43% more expensive than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, New Haven, CT 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.23 $17.23

43.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$74.3 $74.3

58.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.84 $12.84

7.24%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.04 $5.04

13.29%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.39 $2.39

27.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.97 $1.97

26.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.17 $7.17

9.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.11 $8.11

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.13 $1.13

19.47%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.87 $3.87

30.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.20 $5.20

3.65%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.93 $4.93

38.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.41 $9.41

166.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.15 $10.15

56.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.49 $17.49

17.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.08 $5.08

20.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.73 $1.73

63.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.00 $4.00

37.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.10 $4.10

64.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.80 $2.80

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.97 $3.97

-3.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.39 $2.39

12.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.24 $2.24

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.87 $11.87

-1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.31 $16.31

-3.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.78 $1.78

64.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.55 $3.55

19.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.65 $1.65

70.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$63.2 $63.2

58.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.93 $2.93

-11.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$23.52 $23.52

28.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.85 $0.85

40.00%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

10.02%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.63%

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

$263 $263

$128 $128

105.36%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$43.91 $43.91

38.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$56.6 $56.6

34.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$26.12 $26.12

204.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.73 $12.73

27.81%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,390 $1,390

64.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.3K $23.3K

25.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$37.54 $37.54

82.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$23.59 $23.59

120.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$73.8 $73.8

57.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$71.0 $71.0

102.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,005 $2,005

16.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,336 $1,336

39.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$4,010 $4,010

15.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,856 $2,856

21.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,864 $2,864

171.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,803 $2,803

86.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,947 $3,947

67.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for New Haven, CT: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,005 in New Haven, CT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 68% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in New Haven, CT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $396 per month, with New Haven, CT 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 Haven, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and New Haven, CT differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,511 including rent). New Haven, CT is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 68% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,005 in New Haven, CT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in New Haven, CT – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,511 in New Haven, CT – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. New Haven, CT is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 New Haven, CT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.