Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Raleigh, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Raleigh, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 27.4% more expensive than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 23.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 31% more expensive than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 39.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$19.86 $19.86
26.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$74.2 $74.2
59.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$10.11 $10.11
36.89%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.37 $5.37
8.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.36 $2.36
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.05 $2.05
22.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.74 $5.74
36.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.13 $6.13
27.90%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.85 $0.85
57.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.01 $4.01
24.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.18 $3.18
68.24%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.76 $4.76
45.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$13.63 $13.63
81.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$11.46 $11.46
37.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$16.81 $16.81
23.97%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.72 $6.72
-9.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.47 $1.47
87.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$5.77 $5.77
-5.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.31 $6.31
2.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.67 $3.67
-15.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.21 $4.21
-12.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.2 $2.2
26.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.26 $2.26
11.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$7.42 $7.42
56.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.77 $14.77
16.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.03 $2.03
44.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.01 $3.01
39.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.03 $2.03
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$45.36 $45.36
122.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.44 $2.44
9.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.74 $1.74
-5.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$14.73 $14.73
104.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.8 $0.8
45.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$29.8K $29.8K
11.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$185 $185
46.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$63.9 $63.9
-3.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$70.2 $70.2
7.11%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$40.69 $40.69
92.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$34.1 $34.1
20.35%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.2 $15.2
4.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,492 $1,492
50.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$24.5K $24.5K
18.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$51.8 $51.8
34.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$48.69 $48.69
7.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$98.6 $98.6
21.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$142 $142
0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,828 $1,828
29.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,539 $1,539
18.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,992 $2,992
57.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,400 $2,400
44.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$3,093 $3,093
123.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,505 $2,505
108.52%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,392 $4,392
47.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.53
-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

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