Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Norfolk, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Norfolk, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,974 in Norfolk, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $4,191 in Norfolk, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $5,407 in Norfolk, VA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 20% more expensive than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Norfolk, VA 122% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$19.71 $19.71

26.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$74.1 $74.1

61.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.01 $12.01

15.74%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.48 $5.48

1.46%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.35 $2.35

30.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.08 $6.08

30.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.15 $7.15

12.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.16 $4.16

21.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.43 $5.43

-1.29%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.63 $4.63

42.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$13.47 $13.47

87.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.42 $11.42

41.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$16.71 $16.71

21.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.80 $4.80

24.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.46 $1.46

87.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.70 $5.70

-5.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$6.38 $6.38

3.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.24 $2.24

45.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.25 $3.25

16.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.77 $1.77

54.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.12 $2.12

19.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.15 $9.15

23.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$15.06 $15.06

8.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.83 $1.83

55.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.07 $3.07

35.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$104 $104

-6.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$4.53 $4.53

-40.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.33 $1.33

30.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$14.76 $14.76

99.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.86 $0.86

39.53%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$30.6K $30.6K

9.94%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K $27.0K

-3.80%

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

$266 $266

$186 $186

42.96%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$48.57 $48.57

24.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$71.4 $71.4

6.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$40.47 $40.47

95.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$17.37 $17.37

133.22%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$12.07 $12.07

34.38%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,466 $1,466

55.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$16.0K $16.0K

84.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$60.0 $60.0

15.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$45.78 $45.78

14.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$99.6 $99.6

20.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$142 $142

0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,862 $1,862

27.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,623 $1,623

15.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,541 $2,541

85.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,320 $2,320

51.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,445 $2,445

215.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,244 $2,244

139.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,412 $3,412

90.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Norfolk, VA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,862 in Norfolk, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 90% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Norfolk, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $417 per month, with Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Norfolk, VA differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($3,583 vs $2,974 including rent). Norfolk, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 90% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,862 in Norfolk, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,280 in Seattle, WA versus $1,466 in Norfolk, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Norfolk, VA 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 Norfolk, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.