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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,555 in Rock Springs, WY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,809 in Rock Springs, WY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,062 in Rock Springs, WY.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 41% more expensive than Rock Springs, WY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Rock Springs, WY 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.76 $18.76

32.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$81.6 $81.6

44.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.31 $11.31

21.75%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.10 $5.10

11.96%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.32 $2.32

31.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.74 $1.74

43.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.95 $5.95

31.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.38 $7.38

6.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.97 $0.97

39.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.40 $3.40

48.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.83 $3.83

40.73%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.41 $4.41

55.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.34 $12.34

103.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.34 $10.34

53.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.65 $16.65

23.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.99 $4.99

23.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.09 $2.09

34.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.71 $3.71

48.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.74 $4.74

42.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.63 $2.63

19.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.68 $2.68

42.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.85 $1.85

45.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.98 $1.98

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.05 $9.05

28.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.44 $15.44

1.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.00 $2.00

46.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.36 $2.36

79.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.94 $1.94

45.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.46 $2.46

5.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.45 $1.45

18.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$24.78 $24.78

21.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.98 $0.98

21.43%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

30.01%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

0.01%

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

$263 $263

$175 $175

49.78%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$67.4 $67.4

-9.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$82.9 $82.9

-8.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.76 $42.76

86.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.24 $14.24

14.26%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,000 $1,000

128.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$18.5K $18.5K

58.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$63.9 $63.9

7.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$43.71 $43.71

18.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$106 $106

9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$111 $111

29.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,604 $1,604

45.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,331 $1,331

40.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,643 $2,643

75.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,211 $2,211

57.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,925 $2,925

165.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,371 $2,371

120.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rock Springs, WY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,604 in Rock Springs, WY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $82.0 in Rock Springs, WY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $381 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $3,833 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,604 in Rock Springs, WY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,000 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 $82.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Rock Springs, WY is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 41% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.