Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sidney, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sidney, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,706 in Sidney, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,873 in Sidney, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,040 in Sidney, NE.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 33% more expensive than Sidney, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Sidney, NE 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$24.67 $24.67

0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$40.57 $40.57

190.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$10.79 $10.79

27.62%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.80 $5.80

-1.55%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.96 $2.96

3.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.06 $2.06

21.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.08 $4.08

91.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.12 $6.12

28.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.96 $0.96

40.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.28 $3.28

54.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.65 $6.65

-18.95%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.02 $4.02

70.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.00 $13.00

92.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$9.03 $9.03

75.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$13.36 $13.36

54.12%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.26 $5.26

16.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.51 $1.51

86.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.07 $6.07

-9.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$6.27 $6.27

7.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.02 $4.02

-21.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.65 $3.65

4.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.03 $1.03

161.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.16 $2.16

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.05 $8.05

44.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.82 $1.82

60.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.23 $4.23

0.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 $2.04

38.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.56 $2.56

1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.42 $1.42

21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$23.56 $23.56

28.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.82 $0.82

45.12%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$35.6K $35.6K

-8.12%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.87%

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

$263 $263

$213 $213

23.16%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$60.6 $60.6

0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$72.4 $72.4

4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.25 $42.25

88.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$6.93 $6.93

134.78%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$790 $790

188.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$30.9K $30.9K

-5.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$71.9 $71.9

-4.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$48.95 $48.95

6.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$90.8 $90.8

27.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

0.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,573 $1,573

48.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,369 $1,369

36.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,585 $2,585

79.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,178 $2,178

59.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,835 $2,835

173.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,212 $2,212

136.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sidney, NE: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,573 in Sidney, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $41.00 in Sidney, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $399 per month, with Sidney, NE 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 Sidney, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sidney, NE is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $4,059 in Sidney, NE 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 $1,573 in Sidney, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $790 in Sidney, NE. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sidney, NE – a meal for two runs $41.00 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 $2,000. Sidney, NE is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Sidney, NE 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Sidney, NE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sidney, NE gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.