Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Olympia, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Olympia, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,813 in Olympia, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,874 in Olympia, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,936 in Olympia, WA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 27% more than Olympia, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Olympia, WA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Olympia, WA by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$20.09 $20.09

23.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$69.3 $69.3

71.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.15 $12.15

16.46%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.93 $4.93

15.82%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.50 $2.50

17.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.91 $1.91

31.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.16 $7.16

10.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.97 $5.97

34.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.04 $1.04

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.85 $3.85

31.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.29 $4.29

22.38%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.40 $4.40

57.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$15.03 $15.03

66.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.58 $10.58

48.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.90 $14.90

39.06%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.16 $5.16

19.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.63 $1.63

71.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.18 $4.18

32.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.00 $5.00

28.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.87 $2.87

10.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.04 $2.04

90.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.26 $2.26

19.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.22 $2.22

13.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.86 $10.86

4.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.22 $15.22

2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.88 $1.88

52.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.63 $4.63

-7.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.36 $0.36

652.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.87 $3.87

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.04 $2.04

-20.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$36.29 $36.29

-18.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.03 $1.03

10.68%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$33.2K $33.2K

-0.99%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.15%

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

$264 $264

$121 $121

118.11%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$60.4 $60.4

1.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$63.0 $63.0

19.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$58.0 $58.0

34.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$9.83 $9.83

309.77%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$11.03 $11.03

46.06%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,455 $1,455

51.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$19.0K $19.0K

52.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$51.9 $51.9

33.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$48.06 $48.06

11.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$88.3 $88.3

35.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$98.0 $98.0

44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,682 $1,682

40.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,607 $1,607

14.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,839 $2,839

65.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,309 $2,309

54.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,191 $3,191

136.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,943 $2,943

71.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,033 $5,033

28.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.41

0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Olympia, WA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,682 in Olympia, WA. 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 29% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $69.0 in Olympia, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $401 – making Olympia, WA 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 Olympia, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 27% more than Olympia, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,219 in Olympia, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,813 in Olympia, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,212 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,455 in Olympia, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,813 in Olympia, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Olympia, WA costs $2,813 versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Olympia, WA. 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.