Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Show Low, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Show Low, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,839 in Show Low, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,912 in Show Low, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,985 in Show Low, AZ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than Show Low, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Show Low, AZ 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.22 $17.22

44.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$80.1 $80.1

46.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$18.84 $18.84

-26.91%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.95 $5.95

-4.03%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.54 $3.54

-13.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.68 $2.68

-6.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.13 $6.13

27.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.82 $6.82

15.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.43 $1.43

-5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.32 $4.32

17.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.47 $4.47

20.58%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.29 $4.29

59.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.43 $12.43

101.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.63 $11.63

36.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$15.41 $15.41

33.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.02 $5.02

22.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.62 $1.62

74.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.16 $4.16

32.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.80 $4.80

40.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.81 $2.81

12.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.91 $2.91

31.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.09 $2.09

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.53 $9.53

22.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.22 $15.22

3.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.84 $1.84

59.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.27 $3.27

29.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.03 $2.03

38.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.58 $3.58

-27.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.57 $1.57

9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.46 $29.46

2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.86 $0.86

38.37%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

9.31%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.18%

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

$263 $263

$191 $191

37.48%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.4 $52.4

16.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$101 $101

-24.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$44.71 $44.71

77.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$9.17 $9.17

77.43%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,315 $1,315

73.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

23.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$50.0 $50.0

37.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.91 $39.91

30.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$89.8 $89.8

28.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$107 $107

34.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,472 $1,472

58.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,621 $1,621

14.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,515 $2,515

84.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,251 $2,251

54.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,896 $2,896

168.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,464 $2,464

112.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Show Low, AZ: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,472 in Show Low, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $80.0 in Show Low, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $403 per month, with Show Low, AZ 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 Show Low, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Show Low, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $4,259 in Show Low, AZ 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,472 in Show Low, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,315 in Show Low, AZ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Show Low, AZ – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Show Low, AZ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Show Low, AZ 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.

Expats usually find Show Low, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.