Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saint Paul, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Saint Paul, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,423 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,836 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,249 in Saint Paul, MN, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 48% more than Saint Paul, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Saint Paul, MN sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Saint Paul, MN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.12 $18.12

36.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$65.5 $65.5

79.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.13 $10.13

35.93%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.06 $5.06

12.85%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.70 $2.70

12.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.42 $2.42

3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.03 $6.03

29.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.15 $7.15

10.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.96 $0.96

40.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.30 $4.30

17.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.88 $3.88

38.92%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.17 $3.17

116.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.52 $9.52

163.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.91 $11.91

33.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.28 $14.28

44.19%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.87 $4.87

26.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.19 $1.19

136.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.95 $5.95

-7.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.11 $5.11

31.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.80 $3.80

-17.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.64 $3.64

4.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.92 $1.92

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.65 $10.65

9.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.56 $14.56

7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.76 $1.76

66.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.42 $4.42

-4.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.26 $2.26

24.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$118 $118

-14.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.93 $4.93

-47.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.43 $1.43

20.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.52 $29.52

2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.86 $0.86

38.37%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.7K $35.7K

-8.34%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.14%

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

$263 $263

$223 $223

17.84%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$48.45 $48.45

25.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$72.0 $72.0

5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$41.36 $41.36

92.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$10.05 $10.05

296.92%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.80 $13.80

17.90%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,466 $1,466

55.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.8K $29.8K

-1.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$39.62 $39.62

73.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$41.88 $41.88

24.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$83.4 $83.4

38.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$130 $130

10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,232 $1,232

89.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,012 $1,012

84.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,196 $2,196

110.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,253 $2,253

54.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,899 $2,899

167.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,226 $2,226

135.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,182 $4,182

58.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.43

-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,232 in Saint Paul, MN. 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 58% 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 $65.0 in Saint Paul, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $389 – making Saint Paul, MN 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 Saint Paul, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 48%, 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 $3,634 in Saint Paul, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,466 in Saint Paul, MN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Saint Paul, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,423, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. In Saint Paul, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saint Paul, MN – 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 Saint Paul, MN. 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.