😐A single person spends $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,903 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,632 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,206 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,681 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,508 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.
😐Seattle, WA costs about 23% more than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Seattle, WA and Raleigh, NC sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Raleigh, NC by 117%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.97$24.97
$19.37$19.37
28.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119$119
$76.2$76.2
56.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.90$13.90
$10.19$10.19
36.41%
Cappuccino
$5.56$5.56
$5.47$5.47
1.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06$3.06
$2.31$2.31
32.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$1.96$1.96
26.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.96$7.96
$5.64$5.64
41.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01$8.01
$5.88$5.88
36.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34$1.34
$0.87$0.87
54.02%
White Bread(500g)
$5.05$5.05
$4.23$4.23
19.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$3.27$3.27
63.91%
Eggs
$6.59$6.59
$4.60$4.60
43.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.31$25.31
$13.83$13.83
83.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.19$16.19
$11.36$11.36
42.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.30$20.30
$16.60$16.60
22.29%
Apples(1kg)
$5.97$5.97
$7.03$7.03
-15.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.47$1.47
86.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$5.65$5.65
-5.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.61$6.61
$6.09$6.09
8.54%
Potato(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$3.64$3.64
-10.71%
Onion(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$4.09$4.09
-7.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73$2.73
$2.15$2.15
26.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$2.14$2.14
18.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.31$11.31
$7.58$7.58
49.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.28$16.28
$15.36$15.36
5.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85$2.85
$2.02$2.02
41.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16$4.16
$3.13$3.13
32.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.69$2.69
$2.03$2.03
32.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.1$97.1
$44.95$44.95
115.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71$2.71
$2.44$2.44
11.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73$1.73
$1.69$1.69
2.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.46$29.46
$14.86$14.86
98.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$0.86$0.86
39.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K$33.6K
$29.7K$29.7K
13.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$26.9K$26.9K
-3.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266$266
$188$188
41.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4$60.4
$65.5$65.5
-7.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2$76.2
$71.3$71.3
6.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.2$79.2
$39.96$39.96
98.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.51$40.51
$34.47$34.47
17.52%
Cinema Ticket
$16.22$16.22
$14.79$14.79
9.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,280$2,280
$1,509$1,509
51.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.6K$29.6K
$23.7K$23.7K
25.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6$69.6
$52.0$52.0
33.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6$52.6
$49.17$49.17
6.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120$120
$100$100
19.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143$143
$140$140
1.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,378$2,378
$1,842$1,842
29.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,866$1,866
$1,556$1,556
19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,724$4,724
$2,952$2,952
60.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,510$3,510
$2,390$2,390
46.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,711$7,711
$3,812$3,812
102.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,381$5,381
$2,239$2,239
140.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,493$6,493
$4,474$4,474
45.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.53
-1.68%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Raleigh, NC: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,842 in Raleigh, NC. 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 45% 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $76.0 in Raleigh, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $428 – making Raleigh, NC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Seattle, WA vs Raleigh, NC: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Seattle, WA or Raleigh, NC?
Seattle, WA costs about 23% more than Raleigh, NC, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Seattle, WA vs Raleigh, NC?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,374 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,355 in Raleigh, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Seattle, WA or Raleigh, NC?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Raleigh, NC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Seattle, WA vs Raleigh, NC?
Public transport costs about 116% less in Raleigh, NC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Seattle, WA and Raleigh, NC?
Kindergarten costs $2,280 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,509 in Raleigh, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Seattle, WA or Raleigh, NC?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $2,903 in Raleigh, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Seattle, WA or Raleigh, NC?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Raleigh, NC costs $2,903 versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Seattle, WA or Raleigh, NC?
If budget matters most, go with Raleigh, NC. 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.
Seattle, WA vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado