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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $1,971 in Owensboro, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,734 in Owensboro, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,497 in Owensboro, KY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 83% more expensive than Owensboro, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Owensboro, KY 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.92 $17.92

38.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$59.0 $59.0

99.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.17 $10.17

35.40%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.03 $6.03

-5.31%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.95 $1.95

56.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.30 $1.30

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.10 $4.10

90.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$4.99 $4.99

57.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.11 $1.11

21.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.25 $3.25

55.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.42 $4.42

21.95%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.89 $3.89

76.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$6.56 $6.56

282.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.93 $10.93

45.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$8.92 $8.92

130.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.28 $4.28

43.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.33 $1.33

112.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.70 $2.70

104.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.47 $3.47

94.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.19 $2.19

43.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.24 $2.24

70.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.06 $2.06

30.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.53 $1.53

72.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.16 $9.16

27.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$7.92 $7.92

98.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.07 $2.07

41.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.47 $4.47

-5.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.97 $0.97

190.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$30.31 $30.31

230.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.01 $5.01

-48.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.54 $1.54

11.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$21.38 $21.38

41.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.78 $0.78

52.56%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$32.9K $32.9K

-0.56%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.71%

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

$263 $263

$169 $169

55.32%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$59.9 $59.9

1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$60.9 $60.9

24.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$51.0 $51.0

56.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$10.10 $10.10

294.95%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.35 $13.35

21.87%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,262 $1,262

80.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$30.3K $30.3K

-3.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$60.7 $60.7

12.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$47.57 $47.57

9.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$91.2 $91.2

27.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$136 $136

5.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$718 $718

225.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$776 $776

139.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,054 $1,054

339.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$937 $937

271.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,652 $1,652

370.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,675 $1,675

212.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,402 $3,402

94.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.47

-0.77%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Owensboro, KY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $718 in Owensboro, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 95% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $59.0 in Owensboro, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $308 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 83% 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.

Seattle, WA pays 95% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $718 in Owensboro, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,971 in Owensboro, KY – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Owensboro, KY runs roughly 230% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,971 in Owensboro, KY versus $3,598 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 $1,971 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 83% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.