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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,471 in Rochester, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,734 in Rochester, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,997 in Rochester, NY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 46% more expensive than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Rochester, NY 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$25.34 $25.34

-2.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$80.7 $80.7

45.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.33 $10.33

33.30%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.66 $5.66

0.88%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.64 $2.64

15.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.82 $2.82

-11.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$3.98 $3.98

96.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.10 $6.10

29.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.02 $1.02

32.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.02 $3.02

67.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.17 $5.17

4.26%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.06 $4.06

68.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.83 $10.83

131.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$7.95 $7.95

99.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.93 $15.93

29.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.69 $5.69

7.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.38 $1.38

104.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.15 $4.15

32.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.77 $4.77

41.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.59 $3.59

-12.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.23 $3.23

18.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.16 $2.16

24.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.72 $1.72

53.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$15.11 $15.11

-22.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$9.84 $9.84

59.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.53 $2.53

15.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.89 $3.89

9.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.05 $2.05

37.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$46.75 $46.75

114.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.52 $2.52

3.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.85 $1.85

-7.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$21.09 $21.09

43.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.96 $0.96

23.96%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

9.93%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.60%

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

$263 $263

$146 $146

80.33%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$51.2 $51.2

18.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$66.0 $66.0

15.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.79 $43.79

81.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$44.86 $44.86

-11.08%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.48 $13.48

20.70%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,335 $1,335

70.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.0K $29.0K

1.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$40.02 $40.02

71.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$33.86 $33.86

53.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$85.0 $85.0

36.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$86.3 $86.3

66.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,550 $1,550

50.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,189 $1,189

56.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,230 $2,230

107.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,260 $2,260

53.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,479 $1,479

425.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,467 $1,467

256.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,079 $4,079

62.22%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rochester, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,550 in Rochester, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 62% 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 $81.0 in Rochester, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $361 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 46% 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 62% 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 $1,550 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 $81.0 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 $2,471 in Rochester, NY – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,471 in Rochester, NY versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rochester, NY but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Rochester, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Rochester, NY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,471 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 46% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.