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: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,415 in Rochester, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,746 in Rochester, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $5,078 in Rochester, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 49% more expensive than in Rochester, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Rochester, NY 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$24.65 $24.65

0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$80.3 $80.3

51.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.31 $10.31

35.98%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.87 $5.87

-5.28%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.62 $2.62

16.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.81 $2.81

-14.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.08 $4.08

94.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.14 $6.14

31.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.94 $0.94

46.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.89 $2.89

71.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$5.01 $5.01

6.79%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.98 $3.98

65.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$10.80 $10.80

130.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$7.55 $7.55

110.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.45 $15.45

30.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.72 $5.72

7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.35 $1.35

104.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.11 $4.11

30.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.71 $4.71

38.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.73 $3.73

-13.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.19 $3.19

17.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.05 $2.05

38.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.73 $1.73

51.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$14.84 $14.84

-21.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$9.90 $9.90

56.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.50 $2.50

13.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.84 $3.84

10.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$45.60 $45.60

114.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.49 $2.49

4.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.82 $1.82

-9.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$21.21 $21.21

40.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.95 $0.95

20.00%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$30.0K $30.0K

10.46%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.91%

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

$270 $270

$147 $147

83.27%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$49.82 $49.82

19.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$67.1 $67.1

10.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$44.32 $44.32

75.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

$44.25 $44.25

-7.28%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.46 $13.46

17.24%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,338 $1,338

70.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$28.8K $28.8K

3.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$41.20 $41.20

69.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$33.52 $33.52

55.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$83.5 $83.5

40.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$87.0 $87.0

64.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,566 $1,566

48.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,185 $1,185

60.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,203 $2,203

115.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,226 $2,226

55.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$1,451 $1,451

431.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$1,448 $1,448

244.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,959 $3,959

67.77%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Rochester, NY: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,566 in Rochester, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 68% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $80.0 in Rochester, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $354 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 49% 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.

Average pay runs 68% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,566 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 $80.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,415 in Rochester, NY – a 49% 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 $2,415 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 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.