Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oak Harbor, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oak Harbor, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,307 in Oak Harbor, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,496 in Oak Harbor, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,684 in Oak Harbor, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 8% more expensive than in Oak Harbor, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Oak Harbor, WA 148% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$21.78 $21.78

13.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$69.1 $69.1

72.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$19.11 $19.11

-25.95%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$7.18 $7.18

-20.47%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.46 $2.46

19.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.59 $1.59

58.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.14 $8.14

-3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.39 $6.39

25.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.18 $1.18

15.25%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.11 $4.11

23.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.10 $6.10

-13.93%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$5.36 $5.36

28.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$19.47 $19.47

28.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$12.20 $12.20

29.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$20.50 $20.50

1.07%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$7.49 $7.49

-17.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.28 $1.28

117.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$8.71 $8.71

-36.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.86 $6.86

-6.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.78 $3.78

-16.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$5.06 $5.06

-23.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.52 $2.52

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.11 $2.11

19.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$8.92 $8.92

27.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.58 $14.58

7.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.77 $2.77

3.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.92 $3.92

8.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.05 $2.05

32.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$57.4 $57.4

72.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.52 $3.52

-26.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.57 $1.57

3.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.09 $29.09

2.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.23 $1.23

-7.32%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$30.2K $30.2K

8.82%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.38%

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

$264 $264

$378 $378

-30.18%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$62.1 $62.1

-0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$84.4 $84.4

-10.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$27.15 $27.15

187.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.71 $14.71

9.52%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,318 $1,318

67.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.2K $23.2K

24.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$54.4 $54.4

27.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$37.01 $37.01

45.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$116 $116

2.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$192 $192

-26.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,310 $2,310

2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,609 $1,609

13.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,889 $2,889

62.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,084 $2,084

71.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$4,053 $4,053

86.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$4,074 $4,074

23.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,338 $3,338

93.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

-8.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Oak Harbor, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,310 in Oak Harbor, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 94% 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 $69.0 in Oak Harbor, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $502 per month, with Oak Harbor, WA 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 Oak Harbor, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oak Harbor, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oak Harbor, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 94% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $2,310 in Oak Harbor, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Oak Harbor, WA – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Oak Harbor, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Oak Harbor, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,307 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oak Harbor, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Oak Harbor, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Oak Harbor, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.