Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Salem, OR: $2,741 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in Salem, OR
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Salem, OR Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Salem, OR

🇺🇸 United States

$2,741

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Salem, OR

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Salem, OR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,782 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,741 in Salem, OR, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,782
Salem, OR $2,741

A couple spends around $5,636 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,927 in Salem, OR, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,636
Salem, OR $3,927

A family of three spends $7,489 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,114 in Salem, OR, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,489
Salem, OR $5,114

Seattle, WA costs about 38% more than Salem, OR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Salem, OR sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Salem, OR by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.52 $24.52

$19.72 $19.72

24.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$94.4 $94.4

4.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.79 $14.79

$12.15 $12.15

21.73%

Cappuccino

$6.52 $6.52

$4.66 $4.66

39.91%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$2.44 $2.44

32.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.12 $2.12

49.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.93 $4.93

59.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$7.15 $7.15

12.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.17 $1.17

3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.81 $3.81

34.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.15 $4.15

45.78%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$4.99 $4.99

-2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.18 $19.18

$14.49 $14.49

32.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.91 $18.91

$13.60 $13.60

39.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.31 $23.31

$17.92 $17.92

30.08%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 $5.99

$4.75 $4.75

26.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.79 $1.79

7.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.77 $3.77

39.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.17 $4.17

57.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.06 $3.06

18.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.40 $3.40

-2.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.86 $1.86

49.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.23 $2.23

12.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$11.62 $11.62

4.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$15.07 $15.07

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.66 $1.66

154.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.92 $2.92

97.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.98 $1.98

48.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$44.32 $44.32

139.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.53 $3.53

-24.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.13 $2.13

-19.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$49.26 $49.26

-39.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.26 $1.26

18.25%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

40.64%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

7.66%

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

$302 $302

$220 $220

37.06%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$60.9 $60.9

15.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.3 $85.3

$96.4 $96.4

-11.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 $77.8

$45.21 $45.21

72.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.58 $34.58

Cinema Ticket

$17.84 $17.84

$14.94 $14.94

19.41%

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

$2,973 $2,973

$1,061 $1,061

180.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$16.2K $16.2K

93.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$56.4 $56.4

35.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$46.91 $46.91

15.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$84.6 $84.6

51.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 $164

$80.1 $80.1

104.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 $2,445

$1,548 $1,548

57.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 $1,947

$1,378 $1,378

41.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,744 $4,744

$2,348 $2,348

102.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 $3,469

$2,064 $2,064

68.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,367 $7,367

$2,973 $2,973

147.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,127 $5,127

$2,981 $2,981

71.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,506 $6,506

$3,709 $3,709

75.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.59

4.55%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Salem, OR: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5%

Salem, OR

$1.4K 50.3% 29.2% $569

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4%

Salem, OR

$416 15.2% 23.7% $129

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1%

Salem, OR

$378 13.8% 17.4% $80

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6%

Salem, OR

$307 11.2% 23.1% $92

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$190 5%

Salem, OR

$121 4.4% 36.6% $70

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Salem, OR

$66 2.4% 48.6% $63

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$114 3%

Salem, OR

$75 2.7% 33.8% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,445 in Seattle, WA versus $1,548 in Salem, OR. 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 75% 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 $98.0 in Seattle, WA versus $94.0 in Salem, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $546 vs $416 – making Salem, OR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Salem, OR

🕒 Local time

06:57 6:57 AM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

155,469

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 38%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,673 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,112 in Salem, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Seattle, WA and $94.0 in Salem, OR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,782 in Seattle, WA and $2,741 in Salem, OR. That's a gap of about 38%.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,782 in Seattle, WA and $2,741 in Salem, OR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Salem, OR – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Salem, OR. 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.