Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Newton, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Newton, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,487 in Newton, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,652 in Newton, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,817 in Newton, IA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 47% more than Newton, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Newton, IA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Newton, IA by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$19.62 $19.62

29.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$74.1 $74.1

63.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.64 $10.64

32.61%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.07 $5.07

14.79%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.07 $3.07

-2.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.90 $1.90

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$4.86 $4.86

59.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.92 $6.92

13.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.89 $0.89

50.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.09 $3.09

58.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.58 $4.58

12.23%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$2.83 $2.83

132.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$6.46 $6.46

281.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.09 $11.09

43.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.65 $15.65

28.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.55 $6.55

-4.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.25 $2.25

27.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.94 $5.94

-10.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.94 $4.94

29.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.78 $1.78

80.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.83 $2.83

35.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.00 $2.00

37.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.54 $2.54

1.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.16 $9.16

27.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$10.03 $10.03

57.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.74 $1.74

65.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.50 $4.50

-2.44%

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

$3.03 $3.03

-11.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.41 $1.41

20.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$24.76 $24.76

20.11%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

-5.93%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.9K $26.9K

-3.47%

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

$268 $268

$114 $114

135.06%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.5 $53.5

13.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$66.2 $66.2

15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.67 $42.67

82.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.77 $13.77

14.89%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$907 $907

148.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$24.7K $24.7K

20.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$18.26 $18.26

287.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$14.99 $14.99

254.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$81.4 $81.4

44.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$99.8 $99.8

39.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,601 $1,601

44.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,380 $1,380

34.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,638 $2,638

79.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,204 $2,204

61.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Newton, IA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,601 in Newton, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $74 in Newton, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $373 – making Newton, IA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Newton, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,730 in Newton, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Newton, IA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA and $74.0 in Newton, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,487 in Newton, IA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Newton, IA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Newton, IA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.