๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,583 in Severn, MD.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,809 in Severn, MD.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,034 in Severn, MD.
๐Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 42% more expensive than Severn, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA173% above, Severn, MD93% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.32$25.32
$22.34$22.34
13.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121$121
$81.1$81.1
49.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.11$14.11
$10.14$10.14
39.15%
Cappuccino
$5.82$5.82
$5.51$5.51
5.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98$2.98
$2.95$2.95
1.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$2.21$2.21
8.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.73$7.73
$6.64$6.64
16.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87$7.87
$7.54$7.54
4.38%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34$1.34
$1.02$1.02
31.37%
White Bread(500g)
$4.91$4.91
$3.60$3.60
36.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.14$5.14
$4.41$4.41
16.55%
Eggs
$6.57$6.57
$4.33$4.33
51.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.64$24.64
$13.34$13.34
84.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.88$15.88
$9.86$9.86
61.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.14$20.14
$16.32$16.32
23.41%
Apples(1kg)
$6.27$6.27
$6.70$6.70
-6.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$1.60$1.60
78.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.29$5.29
$6.88$6.88
-23.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.39$6.39
$5.49$5.49
16.39%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21$3.21
$2.68$2.68
19.78%
Onion(1kg)
$3.83$3.83
$3.02$3.02
26.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74$2.74
$2.54$2.54
7.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$2.77$2.77
-6.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64$11.64
$8.14$8.14
43.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.77$15.77
$15.28$15.28
3.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$1.77$1.77
62.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39$4.39
$3.71$3.71
18.33%
๐ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.76$2.76
$1.97$1.97
40.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.8$98.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67$2.67
$1.76$1.76
51.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70$1.70
$1.40$1.40
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.74$29.74
$24.17$24.17
23.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14$1.14
$0.89$0.89
28.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K$32.9K
$25.3K$25.3K
29.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$24.6K$24.6K
5.41%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$268$268
$173$173
54.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.9$60.9
$53.2$53.2
14.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2$76.2
$65.8$65.8
15.86%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.1$78.1
$42.50$42.50
83.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.15$40.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.82$15.82
$15.16$15.16
4.35%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,252$2,252
$1,260$1,260
78.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.7K$29.7K
$33.1K$33.1K
-10.38%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8$70.8
$46.97$46.97
50.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1$53.1
$49.13$49.13
8.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117$117
$87.2$87.2
34.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139$139
$113$113
22.71%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,310$2,310
$1,597$1,597
44.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,849$1,849
$1,330$1,330
39.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,739$4,739
$2,663$2,663
77.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,556$3,556
$2,254$2,254
57.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,775$7,775
$2,785$2,785
179.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,351$5,351
$2,613$2,613
104.73%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Severn, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,575$6,575
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.57
-2.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026
Last update for Severn, MD: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,597 in Severn, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $81 in Severn, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $422 per month, with Severn, MD cheaper across the board.
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 Severn, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Severn, MD cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Severn, MD is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,875 in Severn, MD to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and Severn, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,597 in Severn, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,260 in Severn, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Seattle, WA or Severn, MD?
Dining out is cheaper in Severn, MD โ a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Seattle, WA or Severn, MD?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Severn, MD is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Seattle, WA or Severn, MD more family-friendly?
For families, Severn, MD is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Severn, MD gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Seattle, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared