Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Salt Lake City, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Salt Lake City, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,851 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,050 in Salt Lake City, UT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Salt Lake City, UT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Salt Lake City, UT by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.56 $18.56

33.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$80.9 $80.9

45.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.43 $11.43

20.47%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.19 $5.19

10.02%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.28 $2.28

33.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.81 $1.81

38.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.95 $5.95

31.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.44 $7.44

5.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.93 $0.93

45.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.25 $3.25

55.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.82 $3.82

41.10%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.47 $4.47

53.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.37 $12.37

102.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.22 $10.22

55.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.65 $16.65

23.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.23 $5.23

17.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.09 $2.09

34.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.56 $3.56

54.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.55 $4.55

48.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.60 $2.60

21.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.65 $2.65

44.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.87 $1.87

43.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.00 $2.00

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.02 $9.02

29.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.02 $15.02

4.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.97 $1.97

48.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.38 $2.38

78.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.53 $2.53

11.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$85.9 $85.9

16.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.56 $2.56

1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.44 $1.44

19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$24.73 $24.73

22.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.99 $0.99

20.20%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

29.57%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.87%

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

$263 $263

$173 $173

51.96%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$67.2 $67.2

-9.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$83.9 $83.9

-9.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$27.48 $27.48

189.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$16.44 $16.44

142.64%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.18 $14.18

14.74%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$992 $992

129.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$18.2K $18.2K

60.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$64.9 $64.9

5.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$44.13 $44.13

17.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$105 $105

9.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$111 $111

29.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,622 $1,622

44.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,410 $1,410

32.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,832 $2,832

63.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,156 $2,156

61.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$4,126 $4,126

88.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,934 $2,934

78.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,161 $4,161

59.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Salt Lake City, UT: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,622 in Salt Lake City, UT. 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 59% 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 $81.0 in Salt Lake City, UT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $378 – making Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 36%, 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 $3,978 in Salt Lake City, UT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salt Lake City, UT, 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 $118 in Seattle, WA and $81.0 in Salt Lake City, UT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,598 in Seattle, WA and $2,652 in Salt Lake City, UT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Salt Lake City, UT – 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 Salt Lake City, UT. 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.