Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Pocatello, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Pocatello, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $1,940 in Pocatello, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,650 in Pocatello, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,361 in Pocatello, ID.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 98% more expensive than in Pocatello, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Pocatello, ID 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$14.74 $14.74

67.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$49.70 $49.70

99.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$9.85 $9.85

53.20%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.91 $4.91

34.83%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.18 $2.18

43.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.72 $1.72

73.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$2.91 $2.91

179.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.06 $5.06

55.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.81 $0.81

44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.34 $3.34

55.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.46 $4.46

43.50%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.21 $4.21

16.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$8.70 $8.70

146.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$12.37 $12.37

50.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.58 $17.58

31.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.23 $4.23

36.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.30 $1.30

44.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.63 $3.63

48.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$3.23 $3.23

95.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$0.53 $0.53

616.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.72 $2.72

19.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.91 $1.91

50.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.91 $1.91

41.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.15 $10.15

39.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$8.76 $8.76

72.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.64 $2.64

65.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.46 $3.46

66.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.47 $2.47

4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.24 $2.24

-26.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$24.64 $24.64

21.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.92 $0.92

50.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

1.25%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

2.83%

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

$296 $296

$156 $156

90.28%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$53.3 $53.3

33.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$72.2 $72.2

21.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$37.71 $37.71

116.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$15.01 $15.01

137.84%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.60 $12.60

45.48%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$489 $489

526.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

46.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$49.61 $49.61

55.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$45.11 $45.11

19.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$81.2 $81.2

57.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$69.8 $69.8

136.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,130 $1,130

113.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$854 $854

126.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,672 $1,672

184.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,112 $1,112

222.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,992 $1,992

271.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$1,979 $1,979

155.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,909 $3,909

61.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.04

6.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pocatello, ID: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,130 in Pocatello, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 62% 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 $50.0 in Pocatello, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $352 per month, with Pocatello, ID 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 Pocatello, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pocatello, ID is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 62% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,130 in Pocatello, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $489 in Pocatello, ID. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pocatello, ID – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,940 in Pocatello, ID versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Pocatello, ID but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Pocatello, ID the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Pocatello, ID 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.

Expats usually find Pocatello, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.