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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,850 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,128 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,406 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 28% more than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Raleigh, NC sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Raleigh, NC by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$19.36 $19.36

27.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$75.5 $75.5

57.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$10.15 $10.15

35.76%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.31 $5.31

5.65%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.34 $2.34

23.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.98 $1.98

24.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.53 $5.53

43.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.83 $5.83

40.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.86 $0.86

61.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.08 $4.08

19.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.16 $3.16

63.29%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.71 $4.71

40.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$13.60 $13.60

84.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.55 $11.55

36.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$16.44 $16.44

23.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$6.73 $6.73

-7.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.46 $1.46

87.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$5.58 $5.58

-4.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$6.09 $6.09

6.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.66 $3.66

-15.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$4.09 $4.09

-5.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.25 $2.25

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.24 $2.24

13.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$7.68 $7.68

47.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.77 $14.77

4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.02 $2.02

40.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.04 $3.04

39.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$45.71 $45.71

114.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.69 $1.69

1.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$15.13 $15.13

99.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.80 $0.80

43.75%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.5K $29.5K

12.84%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.66%

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

$263 $263

$187 $187

41.08%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$63.8 $63.8

-5.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$72.2 $72.2

2.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$40.04 $40.04

101.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

$34.03 $34.03

20.45%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.86 $14.86

7.07%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,492 $1,492

52.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.1K $24.1K

23.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$52.3 $52.3

33.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$48.35 $48.35

11.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$101 $101

17.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$137 $137

3.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,792 $1,792

29.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,573 $1,573

16.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$3,003 $3,003

56.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,419 $2,419

44.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$3,872 $3,872

110.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,199 $2,199

136.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$4,384 $4,384

49.71%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Raleigh, NC: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,792 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 50% 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 $75.0 in Raleigh, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $425 – making Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 28% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,275 in Raleigh, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 114% less in Raleigh, NC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,492 in Raleigh, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,850 in Raleigh, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Raleigh, NC costs $2,850 versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.