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: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,649 in Rutland, VT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $4,146 in Rutland, VT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,642 in Rutland, VT.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 37% more expensive than in Rutland, VT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Rutland, VT 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.17 $20.17

24.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$65.5 $65.5

80.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.90 $11.90

15.63%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$3.99 $3.99

46.62%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.09 $2.09

45.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.79 $1.79

33.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.05 $6.05

31.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.95 $6.95

12.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.96 $0.96

44.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.45 $3.45

40.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.79 $5.79

-10.54%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.63 $3.63

84.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$18.82 $18.82

34.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$13.64 $13.64

16.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$19.68 $19.68

2.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.76 $3.76

64.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.46 $1.46

97.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.90 $3.90

40.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$3.99 $3.99

59.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.17 $3.17

-2.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.48 $2.48

53.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.92 $1.92

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.65 $1.65

58.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$13.14 $13.14

-13.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$8.89 $8.89

75.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.77 $1.77

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.37 $3.37

25.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.94 $1.94

38.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.94 $4.94

-45.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.43 $1.43

18.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$14.75 $14.75

100.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.86 $0.86

32.56%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$17.7K $17.7K

88.43%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$21.1K $21.1K

25.76%

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

$261 $261

$194 $194

34.49%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$54.5 $54.5

10.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$66.5 $66.5

13.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$42.23 $42.23

86.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.91 $14.91

6.10%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,730 $1,730

27.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

-0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$46.91 $46.91

48.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.63 $34.63

50.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$85.7 $85.7

36.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$162 $162

-14.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,632 $1,632

42.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,363 $1,363

37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,474 $2,474

91.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,964 $2,964

20.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,045 $4,045

61.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.6

-2.73%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Rutland, VT: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,632 in Rutland, VT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 61% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $65.0 in Rutland, VT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $404 per month, with Rutland, VT 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 Rutland, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rutland, VT is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 61% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,632 in Rutland, VT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,649 in Rutland, VT – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

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 37% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.