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 $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,234 in Scranton, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,539 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,120 in Scranton, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,479 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,007 in Scranton, PA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 61% more than Scranton, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Scranton, PA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Scranton, PA by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$11.83 $11.83

109.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$89.6 $89.6

31.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$6.08 $6.08

126.48%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.40 $4.40

29.77%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.46 $1.46

108.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.02 $1.02

145.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.89 $5.89

32.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.09 $7.09

11.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.80 $0.80

68.75%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.40 $1.40

261.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.14 $2.14

151.87%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.35 $3.35

104.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.99 $12.99

92.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$9.82 $9.82

61.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$10.81 $10.81

90.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.62 $3.62

69.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.27 $1.27

122.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.34 $3.34

64.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.46 $4.46

51.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.27 $3.27

-3.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.77 $2.77

37.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.01 $1.01

161.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$6.61 $6.61

76.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$11.98 $11.98

30.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.93 $1.93

51.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.16 $4.16

1.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.71 $1.71

64.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$59.8 $59.8

67.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.04 $3.04

-14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.40 $1.40

22.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$21.65 $21.65

39.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.88 $0.88

35.23%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.5K $26.5K

23.32%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.72%

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

$263 $263

$272 $272

-3.62%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$40.66 $40.66

49.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$50.9 $50.9

49.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$30.57 $30.57

160.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$15.50 $15.50

157.35%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.68 $12.68

28.31%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$755 $755

201.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$43.3K $43.3K

-32.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$44.60 $44.60

53.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$29.85 $29.85

74.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$74.2 $74.2

56.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$81.7 $81.7

75.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,250 $1,250

86.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,104 $1,104

68.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,041 $2,041

126.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,520 $1,520

128.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,613 $1,613

381.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,498 $1,498

249.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,324 $3,324

99.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.68

-3.89%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Scranton, PA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,250 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 99% 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 $90.0 in Scranton, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $303 – 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 61%, 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 $3,351 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 67% less in Scranton, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $755 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 $2,234, than in Seattle, WA at $3,598. 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.