Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Newport News, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Newport News, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,638 in Newport News, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,014 in Newport News, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,390 in Newport News, VA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 36% more expensive than Newport News, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Newport News, VA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$27.59 $27.59

-10.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$62.6 $62.6

88.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.43 $10.43

32.02%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.84 $5.84

-2.23%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.01 $3.01

1.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.25 $2.25

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.93 $4.93

58.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.58 $7.58

3.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.06 $1.06

27.36%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.80 $3.80

33.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.86 $2.86

88.46%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.87 $2.87

138.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.29 $9.29

169.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$15.19 $15.19

4.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.32 $19.32

6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.30 $6.30

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.02 $1.02

176.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.09 $5.09

8.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.18 $4.18

61.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.69 $2.69

17.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.16 $3.16

20.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.07 $2.07

29.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.57 $2.57

2.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.10 $8.10

43.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.07 $16.07

-2.36%

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

$4.60 $4.60

-7.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.56 $2.56

10.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$55.9 $55.9

79.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.01 $4.01

-35.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.33 $1.33

29.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.55 $29.55

2.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.81 $0.81

46.91%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

10.27%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.70%

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

$263 $263

$208 $208

26.01%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$59.5 $59.5

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$66.9 $66.9

13.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$40.41 $40.41

96.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.76 $13.76

18.24%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,637 $2,637

-13.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$40.7K $40.7K

-28.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$42.75 $42.75

60.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$50.8 $50.8

2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$104 $104

11.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$105 $105

36.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,410 $1,410

65.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,227 $1,227

51.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,300 $2,300

101.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,255 $2,255

54.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,274 $2,274

241.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,269 $2,269

130.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,893 $3,893

69.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,410 in Newport News, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 70% 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 $63.0 in Newport News, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $416 per month, with Newport News, VA 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 Newport News, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Newport News, VA differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,638 including rent). Newport News, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 70% 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 $1,410 in Newport News, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,638 in Newport News, VA – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newport News, VA runs roughly 79% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,638 in Newport News, VA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Newport News, VA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Newport News, VA 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 Newport News, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.