Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Owensboro, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Owensboro, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,032 in Owensboro, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $2,979 in Owensboro, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $3,926 in Owensboro, KY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 91% more expensive than in Owensboro, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Owensboro, KY 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$18.38 $18.38

38.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$59.9 $59.9

68.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.02 $11.02

34.30%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.92 $5.92

11.99%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$1.92 $1.92

60.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.37 $1.37

116.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.89 $3.89

104.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.03 $5.03

56.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.13 $1.13

7.96%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.26 $3.26

57.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.14 $4.14

48.79%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.01 $3.01

68.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$6.51 $6.51

227.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$10.93 $10.93

68.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$12.07 $12.07

90.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.42 $4.42

36.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.29 $1.29

45.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.65 $2.65

96.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.62 $3.62

75.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.15 $2.15

75.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.21 $2.21

49.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.06 $2.06

39.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.47 $1.47

80.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.24 $9.24

50.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$8.10 $8.10

85.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.47 $2.47

68.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.64 $4.64

21.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.98 $0.98

203.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$30.33 $30.33

254.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.95 $4.95

-48.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.54 $1.54

7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$21.28 $21.28

38.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.81 $0.81

80.25%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.8K $37.8K

-4.60%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$27.0K $27.0K

-5.78%

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

$306 $306

$173 $173

77.06%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$60.0 $60.0

16.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$61.0 $61.0

43.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$49.56 $49.56

61.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$9.90 $9.90

250.91%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.00 $13.00

37.31%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,472 $1,472

105.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$30.8K $30.8K

1.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$54.2 $54.2

41.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$43.78 $43.78

22.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$92.1 $92.1

36.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$139 $139

16.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$852 $852

188.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$833 $833

137.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$1,390 $1,390

251.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,390 $1,390

160.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$1,641 $1,641

349.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$1,663 $1,663

201.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,385 $3,385

82.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Owensboro, KY: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $852 in Owensboro, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 82% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $60.0 in Owensboro, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $316 per month, with Owensboro, KY 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 Owensboro, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Owensboro, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 91% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Owensboro, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 82% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $852 in Owensboro, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,032 in Owensboro, KY – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Owensboro, KY runs roughly 254% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,032 in Owensboro, KY versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Owensboro, KY but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Owensboro, KY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Owensboro, KY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,032 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Owensboro, KY hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Owensboro, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.