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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $1,335 in Rolla, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $2,119 in Rolla, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $2,903 in Rolla, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 167% more expensive than in Rolla, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Rolla, MO 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.12 $15.12

63.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$45.49 $45.49

161.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.39 $8.39

68.65%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.88 $3.88

47.16%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.02 $2.02

45.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.22 $1.22

106.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$3.92 $3.92

101.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.53 $5.53

45.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.97 $0.97

40.21%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.99 $2.99

69.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.07 $2.07

153.62%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$1.42 $1.42

386.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$9.36 $9.36

166.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$9.02 $9.02

74.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$11.40 $11.40

81.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.60 $4.60

34.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.28 $1.28

117.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.17 $3.17

74.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.91 $3.91

64.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.65 $1.65

91.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.48 $2.48

56.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.00 $2.00

35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.78 $1.78

42.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$5.12 $5.12

122.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$5.13 $5.13

205.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.72 $1.72

66.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.52 $3.52

21.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.06 $3.06

-15.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.52 $1.52

7.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$35.42 $35.42

-16.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.70 $0.70

62.86%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$30.4K $30.4K

8.14%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.62%

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

$264 $264

$124 $124

112.57%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$68.4 $68.4

-9.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$73.9 $73.9

2.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$24.93 $24.93

212.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$9.88 $9.88

307.69%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$8.88 $8.88

81.42%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$780 $780

183.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

23.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$52.3 $52.3

32.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.71 $33.71

59.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$68.2 $68.2

74.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$101 $101

40.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$501 $501

370.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$351 $351

422.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$931 $931

403.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$789 $789

352.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$2,439 $2,439

209.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$2,567 $2,567

96.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,586 $4,586

41.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.65

-3.46%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rolla, MO: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $501 in Rolla, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 41% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $45.00 in Rolla, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $289 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 167% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $1,335 including rent). Rolla, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 41% 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: $2,357 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 88% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,335 in Rolla, MO – a 167% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,335 in Rolla, MO versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 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 167% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.