Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,928 in Portland, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,420 in Portland, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,912 in Portland, OR, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 23% more than Portland, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Portland, OR sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Portland, OR by 118%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$20.23 $20.23

22.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$90.1 $90.1

30.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.24 $12.24

12.50%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.76 $4.76

19.96%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.55 $2.55

19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.90 $1.90

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.84 $6.84

14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.90 $5.90

33.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.06 $1.06

27.36%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.16 $4.16

21.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.37 $4.37

23.34%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.52 $4.52

51.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$15.41 $15.41

62.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.37 $11.37

39.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.07 $15.07

36.63%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.17 $5.17

18.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.99 $1.99

41.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.45 $4.45

23.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.17 $5.17

30.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.98 $2.98

5.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.03 $2.03

88.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.37 $2.37

13.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.23 $2.23

18.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.06 $11.06

5.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.27 $15.27

2.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.24 $2.24

30.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.53 $4.53

-6.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.76 $2.76

2.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$98.1 $98.1

2.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.72 $3.72

-30.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.95 $1.95

-11.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$36.65 $36.65

-17.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.03 $1.03

15.53%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$33.7K $33.7K

-3.05%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.92%

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

$263 $263

$223 $223

17.94%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$69.4 $69.4

-12.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$64.1 $64.1

18.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$39.46 $39.46

101.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$53.7 $53.7

-25.69%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.77 $12.77

27.41%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,766 $1,766

29.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$18.8K $18.8K

55.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$64.0 $64.0

7.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$47.02 $47.02

10.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$104 $104

11.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$114 $114

26.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,871 $1,871

24.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,525 $1,525

22.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,450 $3,450

34.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,581 $2,581

34.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$3,963 $3,963

95.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$3,317 $3,317

57.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,024 $5,024

31.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.41

0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Portland, OR: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,871 in Portland, OR. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $90.0 in Portland, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $417 – making Portland, OR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Portland, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA, $2,928 in Portland, OR – roughly 23% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,391 in Portland, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Portland, OR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,928 in Portland, OR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Portland, OR. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,928 in Portland, OR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,928 in Portland, OR to $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Portland, OR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.