Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Port Arthur, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Port Arthur, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,537 in Port Arthur, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,724 in Port Arthur, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,911 in Port Arthur, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 53% more expensive than in Port Arthur, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Port Arthur, TX 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$18.75 $18.75

35.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$74.0 $74.0

36.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.10 $11.10

33.33%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.97 $4.97

33.40%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.53 $2.53

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.01 $2.01

47.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.96 $5.96

33.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.79 $6.79

16.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.99 $0.99

23.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.48 $3.48

47.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.35 $4.35

41.61%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.19 $4.19

21.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$12.33 $12.33

72.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$11.35 $11.35

62.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$15.25 $15.25

51.08%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.80 $4.80

25.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.59 $1.59

18.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.13 $4.13

25.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.59 $4.59

38.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.76 $2.76

36.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.80 $2.80

17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.03 $2.03

41.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.20 $2.20

20.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.83 $9.83

41.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.07 $14.07

6.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.84 $1.84

126.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.42 $3.42

64.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.96 $1.96

51.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.52 $3.52

-26.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.63 $1.63

1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$29.22 $29.22

0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.90 $0.90

62.22%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$29.3K $29.3K

22.96%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.61%

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

$306 $306

$190 $190

61.39%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$53.8 $53.8

30.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$68.1 $68.1

28.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$43.40 $43.40

84.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.52 $13.52

32.03%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,284 $1,284

135.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.7K $23.7K

31.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$50.0 $50.0

53.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.25 $39.25

37.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$85.7 $85.7

46.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$113 $113

43.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,589 $1,589

54.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,357 $1,357

45.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,673 $2,673

82.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,208 $2,208

64.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,767 $2,767

166.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,488 $2,488

101.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Port Arthur, TX: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,589 in Port Arthur, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Port Arthur, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $384 per month, with Port Arthur, TX 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 Port Arthur, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Arthur, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,829 in Seattle, WA and $3,805 in Port Arthur, TX 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,589 in Port Arthur, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,284 in Port Arthur, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Port Arthur, TX – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Port Arthur, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Port Arthur, TX 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 Port Arthur, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.