Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rutland, VT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Rutland, VT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,244 in Rutland, VT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,068 in Rutland, VT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,892 in Rutland, VT.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 73% more expensive than in Rutland, VT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Rutland, VT 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.34 $20.34

22.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.18 $15.18

-0.79%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.10 $4.10

55.37%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.59 $2.59

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.03 $1.03

191.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.15 $6.15

26.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$10.39 $10.39

-20.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.82 $0.82

47.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.16 $2.16

131.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.28 $5.28

21.02%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.04 $4.04

26.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$6.41 $6.41

228.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.08 $13.08

40.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$18.58 $18.58

29.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.71 $4.71

25.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.39 $1.39

35.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.53 $4.53

16.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.52 $4.52

43.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.28 $3.28

12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.25 $2.25

49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.30 $2.30

21.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.95 $1.95

32.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.95 $8.95

55.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$8.74 $8.74

71.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.99 $1.99

115.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.78 $3.78

55.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.95 $4.95

-48.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.43 $1.43

20.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$14.84 $14.84

104.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.00 $1.00

40.00%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.32%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$21.8K $21.8K

17.06%

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

$299 $299

$210 $210

42.37%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$69.7 $69.7

-0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$89.9 $89.9

-2.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.77 $14.77

19.84%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,487 $1,487

103.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$17.1K $17.1K

81.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$54.6 $54.6

41.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$39.41 $39.41

39.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$113 $113

13.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$108 $108

47.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,282 $1,282

94.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,000 $1,000

93.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,623 $2,623

81.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$3,033 $3,033

20.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,970 $3,970

56.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Rutland, VT: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,282 in Rutland, VT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 57% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $100 in Rutland, VT. Groceries flip the comparison at $552 vs $362, with Rutland, VT cheaper for home cooking.

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 Rutland, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rutland, VT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 57% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,282 in Rutland, VT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,244 in Rutland, VT – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,244 in Rutland, VT versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rutland, VT but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Rutland, VT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Rutland, VT 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 Rutland, VT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.