Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rolla, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rolla, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,432 in Rolla, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $2,730 in Rolla, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $3,027 in Rolla, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 58% more expensive than in Rolla, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Rolla, MO 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$12.23 $12.23

101.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$34.65 $34.65

185.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$9.14 $9.14

65.10%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.05 $4.05

63.46%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$1.97 $1.97

58.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.29 $1.29

131.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$2.99 $2.99

171.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$3.96 $3.96

98.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.97 $0.97

20.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.55 $3.55

46.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$1.98 $1.98

223.23%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$1.42 $1.42

245.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$11.12 $11.12

92.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$9.12 $9.12

103.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$7.64 $7.64

201.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.39 $4.39

31.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.13 $1.13

66.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.08 $3.08

74.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.42 $4.42

42.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.71 $1.71

122.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.45 $2.45

33.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.80 $1.80

59.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.99 $1.99

36.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$5.14 $5.14

175.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$5.10 $5.10

195.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.69 $1.69

157.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.69 $3.69

55.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.04 $2.04

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.96 $2.96

-13.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.39 $1.39

18.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$35.79 $35.79

-16.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.69 $0.69

100.00%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.3K $35.3K

3.20%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.42%

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

$296 $296

$274 $274

8.08%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$59.2 $59.2

20.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$73.6 $73.6

19.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.15 $41.15

97.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$9.82 $9.82

263.54%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$9.89 $9.89

85.34%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$765 $765

301.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$23.2K $23.2K

31.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$72.8 $72.8

5.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$36.75 $36.75

46.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$78.8 $78.8

62.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$123 $123

33.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$501 $501

382.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,323 $1,323

45.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,112 $1,112

327.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$840 $840

326.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,786 $2,786

165.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,345 $2,345

115.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,531 $4,531

39.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rolla, MO: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $501 in Rolla, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 39% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $35.00 in Rolla, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $291 per month, with Rolla, MO 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 Rolla, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Rolla, MO differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($3,836 vs $2,432 including rent). Rolla, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $501 in Rolla, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 90% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,432 in Rolla, MO – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,432 in Rolla, MO versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Rolla, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Rolla, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Rolla, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.