Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Scranton, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Scranton, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,081 in Scranton, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,000 in Scranton, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,918 in Scranton, PA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 87% more than Scranton, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Scranton, PA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Scranton, PA by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$12.03 $12.03

110.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$76.5 $76.5

31.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$5.86 $5.86

152.56%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.56 $4.56

45.39%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$1.49 $1.49

106.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$0.98 $0.98

202.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.79 $6.79

16.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.69 $7.69

2.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.75 $0.75

62.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$1.44 $1.44

256.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.21 $2.21

178.73%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.36 $3.36

51.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.12 $11.12

91.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$8.88 $8.88

107.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$11.09 $11.09

107.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.74 $3.74

61.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.31 $1.31

43.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.26 $3.26

59.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.36 $4.36

46.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.90 $2.90

30.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.31 $3.31

-0.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.97 $1.97

45.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$0.95 $0.95

180.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$6.54 $6.54

112.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$12.20 $12.20

23.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.96 $2.96

40.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.77 $4.77

18.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.80 $1.80

65.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$60.6 $60.6

77.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.28 $3.28

-21.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.98 $1.98

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$24.85 $24.85

18.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.03 $1.03

41.75%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.2K $36.2K

-0.36%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.09%

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

$306 $306

$230 $230

33.16%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$40.21 $40.21

74.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$50.9 $50.9

71.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$30.59 $30.59

161.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$15.78 $15.78

120.15%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$12.44 $12.44

43.49%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$783 $783

285.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$17.4K $17.4K

78.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$45.49 $45.49

68.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$29.41 $29.41

83.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$72.1 $72.1

74.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$84.2 $84.2

92.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,246 $1,246

97.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,006 $1,006

96.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$1,575 $1,575

209.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,492 $1,492

143.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$1,618 $1,618

355.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$1,545 $1,545

224.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,339 $3,339

84.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Scranton, PA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,246 in Scranton, PA. 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 85% 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $77.0 in Scranton, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $551 vs $300 – making Scranton, PA 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 Scranton, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 87%, 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 $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,122 in Scranton, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 77% less in Scranton, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,018 per month in Seattle, WA and $783 in Scranton, PA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Scranton, PA, where all-in costs run around $2,081, than in Seattle, WA at $3,886. In Scranton, PA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Scranton, PA – 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 Scranton, PA. 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.