Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oshawa

For one person, living is cheaper in Oshawa: $2,331 a month against $3,744 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,744
/mo nomad
Oshawa
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Oshawa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Oshawa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,744 in Seattle, WA versus $2,331 in Oshawa.

  • Seattle, WA $3,744
  • Oshawa $2,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,703 in Seattle, WA versus $3,293 in Oshawa.

  • Seattle, WA $5,703
  • Oshawa $3,293

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,661 in Seattle, WA versus $4,255 in Oshawa.

  • Seattle, WA $7,661
  • Oshawa $4,255

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 61% more expensive than in Oshawa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Oshawa 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56 $24.56
$13.89 CA$19.81
76.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$60.6 CA$86.3
64.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.30 $15.30
$8.41 CA$11.98
81.93%
Cappuccino
$6.62 $6.62
$3.36 CA$4.79
97.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.74 CA$2.49
86.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.39 CA$1.99
123.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.77 $7.77
$4.83 CA$6.89
60.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$5.83 CA$8.31
36.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$2.88 CA$4.11
-57.99%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.86 CA$4.07
72.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$4.05 CA$5.78
52.35%
Eggs
$4.96 $4.96
$2.93 CA$4.18
69.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.00 $19.00
$9.59 CA$13.67
98.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.69 $18.69
$13.92 CA$19.84
34.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.14 $23.14
$16.33 CA$23.28
41.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.31 CA$6.14
37.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.22 CA$1.74
59.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$2.79 CA$3.98
86.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$3.74 CA$5.33
75.13%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.33 CA$4.75
8.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.60 CA$3.70
21.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.23 CA$3.18
30.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.72 CA$2.45
38.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.36 $12.36
$14.14 CA$20.15
-12.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$12.27 CA$17.49
22.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.54 CA$5.05
21.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 $5.69
$3.56 CA$5.07
59.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.48 CA$3.53
22.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 $109
$69.7 CA$99.4
55.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.56 CA$5.07
-25.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$0.68 CA$0.96
155.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.02 $30.02
$17.25 CA$24.59
74.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.09 CA$1.55
33.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$28.2K CA$40.2K
30.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$19.7K CA$28.1K
30.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 $299
$137 CA$196
118.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.7 $69.7
$37.26 CA$53.1
87.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.1 $90.1
$51.8 CA$73.9
73.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 $80.0
$28.53 CA$40.66
180.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.62 $35.62
$28.76 CA$41.00
23.85%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33 $17.33
$10.43 CA$14.87
66.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,986 $2,986
$1,199 CA$1,709
148.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 $77.7
$55.5 CA$79.1
39.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 $54.9
$55.2 CA$78.6
-0.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$102 CA$146
23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 $165
$128 CA$182
28.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$1,375 CA$1,959
75.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$1,180 CA$1,682
66.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,788 $4,788
$1,945 CA$2,772
146.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,561 $3,561
$1,794 CA$2,558
98.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,430 $7,430
$5,188 CA$7,394
43.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,010 $5,010
$10.2K CA$14.5K
-50.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Oshawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,280 $6,280
$2,881 CA$4,107
117.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
4.53
51.21%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 6, 2026

Last update for Oshawa: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$2K
Oshawa
$1.2K 39.9% $783
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$541
Oshawa
$386 28.7% $155
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$459
Oshawa
$226 50.7% $233
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$402
Oshawa
$225 44% $177
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$191
Oshawa
$153 19.5% $37
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$132
Oshawa
$87 34.5% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$115
Oshawa
$49 56.9% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,407 in Seattle, WA and $1,375 in Oshawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 118% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $61.0 in Oshawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $386 per month, with Oshawa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇨🇦 Oshawa
🕒 Local time
03:23 3:23 AM
06:23 6:23 AM
3 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
159,458
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Oshawa 3,350 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Oshawa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oshawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seattle, WA or Oshawa?
Oshawa wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oshawa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Seattle, WA or in Oshawa?
Average pay runs 118% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Seattle, WA compared to Oshawa?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,407 in Seattle, WA versus $1,375 in Oshawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Seattle, WA and in Oshawa?
Dining out is cheaper in Oshawa – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Seattle, WA compared to Oshawa?
All in, you'll spend $3,744 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,331 in Oshawa – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seattle, WA or in Oshawa?
At $2,331 in Oshawa versus $3,744 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oshawa but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Oshawa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Seattle, WA or Oshawa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oshawa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,331 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oshawa hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oshawa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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