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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,475 in Newton, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,002 in Newton, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,759 per month in Seattle, WA vs $8,530 in Newton, MA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 12% more than Newton, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Newton, MA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 184%, Newton, MA by 154%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$29.55 $29.55

-15.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$119 $119

-15.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.86 $11.86

26.98%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.34 $6.34

0.47%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.02 $3.02

1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.33 $2.33

28.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.18 $8.18

-4.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.98 $7.98

2.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.20 $1.20

0.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.58 $4.58

8.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.54 $6.54

-2.29%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.26 $4.26

20.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$19.47 $19.47

8.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.05 $11.05

66.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.13 $16.13

48.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.13 $5.13

14.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.72 $1.72

9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.59 $5.59

-5.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.59 $6.59

-1.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.71 $3.71

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.95 $3.95

-14.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.78 $2.78

0.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.50 $2.50

3.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$12.29 $12.29

13.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.31 $16.31

-8.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.86 $1.86

130.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.70 $2.70

117.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.34 $2.34

24.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$91.0 $91.0

19.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.96 $1.96

31.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.57 $1.57

9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$11.07 $11.07

174.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.91 $0.91

53.85%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.9K $36.9K

-2.25%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.68%

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

$299 $299

$262 $262

14.32%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$54.5 $54.5

27.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$78.7 $78.7

11.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$65.4 $65.4

22.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.34 $15.34

15.38%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$2,892 $2,892

4.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

-12.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$73.5 $73.5

5.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$50.1 $50.1

9.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$112 $112

14.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$135 $135

18.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,850 $1,850

34.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,848 $1,848

4.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$5,151 $5,151

-7.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$4,590 $4,590

-20.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$6,008 $6,008

26.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$5,362 $5,362

-4.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$7,801 $7,801

-20.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.25

3.20%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Newton, MA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,850 in Newton, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Newton, MA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Seattle, WA versus $119 in Newton, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $552 in Seattle, WA vs $462 in Newton, MA – so Newton, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA, $3,475 in Newton, MA – roughly 12% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,820 per month in Seattle, WA and $5,212 in Newton, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 20% less in Newton, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,020 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,892 in Newton, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,880 in Seattle, WA and $3,475 in Newton, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,475 in Newton, MA to $3,880 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Newton, MA. 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.