Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rochester, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rochester, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,438 in Rochester, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,731 in Rochester, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $5,023 in Rochester, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 45% more expensive than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, Rochester, NY 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$24.78 $24.78

1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$78.7 $78.7

52.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$10.28 $10.28

34.14%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.70 $5.70

-1.58%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.53 $2.53

18.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.70 $2.70

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.07 $4.07

92.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$5.84 $5.84

35.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.95 $0.95

43.16%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.88 $2.88

68.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.99 $4.99

6.41%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.01 $4.01

64.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$11.02 $11.02

122.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$7.70 $7.70

108.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$15.51 $15.51

32.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.46 $5.46

11.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.31 $1.31

119.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.13 $4.13

34.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.94 $4.94

36.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.66 $3.66

-12.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.23 $3.23

17.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.14 $2.14

27.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.79 $1.79

46.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$14.93 $14.93

-21.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$9.96 $9.96

58.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.44 $2.44

16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.00 $4.00

9.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.99 $1.99

35.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$45.77 $45.77

115.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.43 $2.43

8.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.90 $1.90

-13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$21.14 $21.14

41.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.96 $0.96

18.75%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$30.2K $30.2K

7.84%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.40%

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

$264 $264

$144 $144

82.84%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$50.0 $50.0

21.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$66.8 $66.8

14.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.68 $43.68

78.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

$44.88 $44.88

-10.85%

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$13.62 $13.62

18.87%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$1,331 $1,331

69.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$28.7K $28.7K

3.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$41.17 $41.17

71.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$32.86 $32.86

57.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$84.2 $84.2

41.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$87.2 $87.2

63.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,576 $1,576

51.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,218 $1,218

54.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,184 $2,184

117.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$2,222 $2,222

61.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$1,434 $1,434

447.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$1,469 $1,469

254.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$4,042 $4,042

59.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Rochester, NY: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,576 in Rochester, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $79 in Rochester, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $356 per month, with Rochester, NY 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 Rochester, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rochester, NY wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rochester, NY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 59% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,576 in Rochester, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Rochester, NY – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,438 in Rochester, NY – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Rochester, NY 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 Rochester, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,438 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rochester, NY hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Rochester, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.