Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Roy, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Roy, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,530 in Roy, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,718 in Roy, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,905 in Roy, UT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 42% more than Roy, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Roy, UT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Roy, UT by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.75 $18.75

32.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$83.3 $83.3

41.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.47 $11.47

20.05%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.91 $4.91

16.29%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.24 $2.24

36.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.72 $1.72

45.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.13 $6.13

27.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.43 $7.43

6.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.60 $0.60

125.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.70 $2.70

87.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.84 $3.84

40.36%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.48 $3.48

96.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.54 $12.54

99.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.26 $10.26

54.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$11.13 $11.13

85.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.03 $5.03

22.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 $2.04

38.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.69 $3.69

49.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.73 $4.73

42.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.58 $2.58

22.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.62 $2.62

45.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.87 $1.87

43.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.97 $1.97

34.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.17 $9.17

27.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.47 $15.47

1.42%

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

$2.46 $2.46

72.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.97 $1.97

43.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$44.85 $44.85

123.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.56 $2.56

1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.47 $1.47

17.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$12.82 $12.82

135.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.00 $1.00

19.00%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

29.48%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.41%

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

$263 $263

$175 $175

49.93%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$67.8 $67.8

-10.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$81.5 $81.5

-6.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.45 $43.45

83.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$15.13 $15.13

163.65%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$10.81 $10.81

50.51%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$998 $998

128.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.5K $23.5K

24.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$39.68 $39.68

72.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$24.64 $24.64

110.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$89.6 $89.6

29.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$112 $112

27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,305 $1,305

79.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,362 $1,362

36.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,637 $2,637

75.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,230 $2,230

55.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,851 $1,851

182.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,772 $3,772

75.44%

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 Roy, UT: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,305 in Roy, UT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 75% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $83.0 in Roy, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $350 – making Roy, UT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Roy, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,397 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,795 in Roy, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Roy, UT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 123% less in Roy, UT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $998 in Roy, UT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Roy, UT, where all-in costs run around $2,530, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Roy, UT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Roy, UT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Roy, UT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.