Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Salem, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Salem, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,398 in Salem, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,714 in Salem, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $6,029 in Salem, MA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 14% more expensive than in Salem, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Salem, MA 148% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$25.47 $25.47

-1.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$99.1 $99.1

0.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.12 $11.12

35.43%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$4.98 $4.98

27.91%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.56 $2.56

20.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.21 $2.21

35.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.12 $8.12

-3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.98 $6.98

17.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.27 $1.27

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.29 $4.29

16.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.42 $4.42

44.57%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.30 $4.30

19.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.45 $14.45

45.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.58 $11.58

58.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.54 $16.54

45.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.52 $4.52

30.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.32 $1.32

42.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.31 $4.31

22.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.58 $4.58

41.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.33 $4.33

-15.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.88 $2.88

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.47 $2.47

12.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.21 $2.21

16.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$8.98 $8.98

55.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$12.94 $12.94

15.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.16 $2.16

98.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.38 $3.38

73.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.96 $1.96

48.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$54.4 $54.4

100.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.14 $3.14

-18.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.76 $1.76

-2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$31.60 $31.60

-3.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.88 $0.88

59.09%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

3.03%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

-0.00%

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

$299 $299

$202 $202

48.17%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$58.0 $58.0

19.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$67.5 $67.5

29.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$43.23 $43.23

85.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.01 $15.01

17.92%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,368 $1,368

120.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$23.1K $23.1K

33.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$70.1 $70.1

10.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$57.6 $57.6

-4.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$95.1 $95.1

34.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$99.7 $99.7

59.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,404 $2,404

3.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,959 $1,959

-1.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,507 $3,507

35.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,871 $2,871

26.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,753 $2,753

175.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,377 $2,377

114.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$9,443 $9,443

-34.14%

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 Salem, MA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,404 in Salem, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salem, MA pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $99.0 in Salem, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $410 per month, with Salem, MA 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 Salem, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salem, MA wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Salem, MA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Salem, MA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $2,404 in Salem, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,368 in Salem, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Salem, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Salem, MA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,398 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Salem, MA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Salem, MA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Salem, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.