Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Reston, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Reston, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,287 in Reston, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $5,222 in Reston, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $7,157 in Reston, VA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 9% more expensive than Reston, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Reston, VA 145% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$24.37 $24.37

1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$107 $107

9.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.95 $10.95

25.75%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.61 $5.61

1.78%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.10 $3.10

-1.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.62 $2.62

-4.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.70 $7.70

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.79 $7.79

1.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.20 $1.20

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.82 $3.82

32.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.98 $6.98

-22.78%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$5.19 $5.19

31.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$19.26 $19.26

30.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$20.52 $20.52

-22.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$24.87 $24.87

-17.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.62 $7.62

-19.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.77 $1.77

59.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.46 $5.46

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.81 $5.81

16.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.62 $3.62

-12.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.20 $3.20

19.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.46 $2.46

9.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.80 $2.80

-5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.79 $7.79

49.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$17.89 $17.89

-12.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.68 $1.68

74.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.70 $3.70

14.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$5.98 $5.98

-52.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$129 $129

-22.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.98 $3.98

-34.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.33 $1.33

29.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$25.05 $25.05

20.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.88 $0.88

35.23%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

25.62%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.96%

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

$263 $263

$221 $221

18.54%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.8 $51.8

17.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$70.3 $70.3

7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$99.6 $99.6

-20.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$29.96 $29.96

33.14%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.14 $15.14

7.46%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,814 $1,814

25.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$36.0K $36.0K

-18.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$47.06 $47.06

45.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$47.57 $47.57

9.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$93.4 $93.4

23.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$121 $121

18.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,019 $2,019

15.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,564 $1,564

19.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,713 $3,713

24.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$3,177 $3,177

9.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$6,467 $6,467

20.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$4,310 $4,310

21.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$6,343 $6,343

4.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Reston, VA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,019 in Reston, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $107 in Reston, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $546 per month, with Reston, VA 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 Reston, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reston, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Reston, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,019 in Reston, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Reston, VA – a meal for two runs $107 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,287 in Reston, VA – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Reston, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Reston, VA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Reston, VA hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Reston, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.