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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 37.5% more expensive than Salem, OR without rent, and 34.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 32% more expensive than Salem, OR without rent, and 50.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$17.27 $17.27
45.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$91.6 $91.6
29.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$9.89 $9.89
39.94%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.65 $4.65
24.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.52 $2.52
17.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.98 $1.98
26.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$4.66 $4.66
67.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.79 $6.79
15.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.1 $1.1
21.82%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4 $4
24.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.9 $3.9
37.18%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.8 $4.8
43.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$17.55 $17.55
41.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$13.18 $13.18
19.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$16.82 $16.82
23.90%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.26 $4.26
42.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.48 $1.48
85.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.64 $3.64
50.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$3.76 $3.76
71.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.03 $2.03
53.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.15 $2.15
71.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.92 $1.92
44.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.69 $1.69
49.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$10.61 $10.61
9.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$12.87 $12.87
33.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.61 $1.61
82.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.89 $2.89
44.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.67 $1.67
67.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$39.91 $39.91
152.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.43 $3.43
-21.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.2 $1.2
37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$39.4 $39.4
-23.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1 $1
16.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$28.1K $28.1K
18.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$271 $271
0.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$54.2 $54.2
14.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$77.2 $77.2
-2.64%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$53.8 $53.8
45.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$13.02 $13.02
22.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,308 $1,308
71.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$23.3K $23.3K
24.80%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$46.74 $46.74
48.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$52.2 $52.2
0.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$86 $86
38.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$81.5 $81.5
74.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,512 $1,512
57.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,371 $1,371
33.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,867 $2,867
64.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,083 $2,083
66.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$3,083 $3,083
124.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$3,064 $3,064
70.48%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Salem, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$3,762 $3,762
72.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.55
-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Salem, OR: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.