Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oregon City, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oregon City, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,624 in Oregon City, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,806 in Oregon City, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,987 in Oregon City, OR, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 37% more than Oregon City, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Oregon City, OR sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Oregon City, OR by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$19.14 $19.14

29.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75.6 $75.6

55.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.96 $10.96

25.64%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.19 $5.19

10.02%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.57 $2.57

18.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.94 $1.94

28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.97 $5.97

31.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.85 $6.85

15.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.00 $1.00

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.60 $3.60

40.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.37 $4.37

23.34%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.22 $4.22

62.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.22 $12.22

105.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.46 $11.46

38.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.48 $15.48

33.01%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.92 $4.92

24.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.56 $1.56

80.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.27 $4.27

29.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.75 $4.75

41.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.87 $2.87

9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.78 $2.78

37.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.19 $2.19

20.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.53 $9.53

22.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.14 $14.14

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.84 $1.84

59.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.38 $3.38

25.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.55 $3.55

-26.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.65 $1.65

4.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.07 $29.07

3.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.90 $0.90

32.22%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.53%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.84%

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

$263 $263

$191 $191

37.54%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.0 $52.0

17.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$68.6 $68.6

10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.74 $42.74

86.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.69 $13.69

18.85%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,292 $1,292

76.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

23.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$51.6 $51.6

32.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.63 $40.63

27.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.2 $86.2

34.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$111 $111

29.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,610 $1,610

45.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,351 $1,351

37.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,640 $2,640

75.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,221 $2,221

56.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,785 $2,785

178.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,414 $2,414

116.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Oregon City, OR: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,610 in Oregon City, OR. 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $76.0 in Oregon City, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $388 – making Oregon City, OR 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 Oregon City, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 37% more than Oregon City, OR, 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 $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,937 in Oregon City, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oregon City, OR, 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,624 in Oregon City, OR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,292 in Oregon City, OR. 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,624 in Oregon City, OR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oregon City, OR costs $2,624 versus $3,598 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 Oregon City, OR. 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.