Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Pierre, SD Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Pierre, SD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,554 in Pierre, SD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,695 in Pierre, SD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,836 in Pierre, SD.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 52% more expensive than in Pierre, SD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Pierre, SD 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.24 $20.24

23.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$78.4 $78.4

27.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.79 $11.79

27.74%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.46 $5.46

16.67%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.68 $2.68

14.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.97 $1.97

52.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.25 $6.25

24.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.61 $7.61

7.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.89 $0.89

35.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.35 $3.35

48.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.17 $4.17

53.24%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.70 $4.70

8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.39 $12.39

69.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.75 $12.75

44.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.25 $16.25

47.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.31 $4.31

36.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.50 $1.50

25.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.99 $4.99

6.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.17 $5.17

25.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.03 $3.03

21.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.15 $3.15

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.21 $2.21

26.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.22 $2.22

16.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.72 $9.72

43.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.52 $16.52

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.72 $1.72

148.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.12 $3.12

87.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.22 $2.22

31.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.90 $2.90

-11.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.81 $1.81

-4.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$26.41 $26.41

15.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.94 $0.94

48.94%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.9K $36.9K

-2.25%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.0K $25.0K

1.94%

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

$299 $299

$209 $209

43.56%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.7 $53.7

29.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$73.2 $73.2

19.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$42.39 $42.39

89.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.06 $15.06

17.53%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,352 $1,352

123.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$22.4K $22.4K

38.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$47.07 $47.07

64.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$38.77 $38.77

42.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$79.5 $79.5

61.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$111 $111

43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,427 $1,427

74.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,438 $1,438

34.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,310 $2,310

105.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,946 $1,946

87.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,973 $2,973

155.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,716 $2,716

88.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Pierre, SD: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,427 in Pierre, SD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $78.0 in Pierre, SD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $403 per month, with Pierre, SD 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 Pierre, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pierre, SD is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,820 in Seattle, WA and $3,831 in Pierre, SD to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,427 in Pierre, SD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,554 in Pierre, SD – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,554 in Pierre, SD versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Pierre, SD but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Pierre, SD the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Pierre, SD is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Pierre, SD are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pierre, SD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.