Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rock Springs, WY Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rock Springs, WY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,440 in Rock Springs, WY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,551 in Rock Springs, WY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,662 in Rock Springs, WY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 57% more expensive than in Rock Springs, WY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Rock Springs, WY 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$18.23 $18.23

35.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$74.5 $74.5

33.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.16 $10.16

48.52%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.90 $4.90

35.10%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.22 $2.22

40.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.64 $1.64

81.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.07 $5.07

60.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$5.94 $5.94

32.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.93 $0.93

25.81%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.68 $3.68

41.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$1.78 $1.78

259.55%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.01 $3.01

63.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$10.94 $10.94

96.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$10.20 $10.20

82.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.52 $17.52

31.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.34 $4.34

33.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.34 $1.34

40.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.39 $3.39

58.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$2.91 $2.91

116.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.00 $2.00

90.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.67 $2.67

22.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.86 $1.86

54.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.99 $0.99

173.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.21 $9.21

53.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.70 $14.70

2.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.63 $2.63

65.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.33 $3.33

72.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.80 $1.80

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.44 $2.44

5.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.35 $2.35

-29.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$24.51 $24.51

21.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.00 $1.00

38.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.7K $36.7K

-0.83%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.2K $24.2K

3.54%

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

$296 $296

$195 $195

51.64%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$44.20 $44.20

61.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$78.6 $78.6

11.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$42.07 $42.07

93.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$15.17 $15.17

20.83%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,283 $1,283

139.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

46.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$50.1 $50.1

53.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$44.67 $44.67

20.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$78.6 $78.6

62.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$106 $106

55.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$807 $807

199.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,298 $1,298

48.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,524 $2,524

88.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,121 $2,121

69.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,611 $2,611

183.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,344 $2,344

115.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.04

6.29%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rock Springs, WY: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $807 in Rock Springs, WY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Rock Springs, WY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $339 per month, with Rock Springs, WY 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 Rock Springs, WY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rock Springs, WY is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,754 in Seattle, WA and $3,660 in Rock Springs, WY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $807 in Rock Springs, WY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,283 in Rock Springs, WY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rock Springs, WY – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,440 in Rock Springs, WY versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rock Springs, WY but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Rock Springs, WY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Rock Springs, WY is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Rock Springs, WY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.