Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sioux City, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sioux City, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,127 in Sioux City, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $3,194 in Sioux City, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $4,261 in Sioux City, IA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 68% more expensive than in Sioux City, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Sioux City, IA 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.96 $15.96

55.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$54.2 $54.2

119.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.54 $10.54

34.25%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.03 $6.03

-5.31%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.25 $2.25

30.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.72 $1.72

46.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$4.96 $4.96

59.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.20 $7.20

11.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.94 $0.94

44.68%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.52 $2.52

101.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.23 $2.23

135.43%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.57 $3.57

93.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$8.01 $8.01

211.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$7.60 $7.60

107.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$16.69 $16.69

24.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.42 $4.42

40.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.62 $1.62

72.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.62 $3.62

52.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.46 $3.46

85.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.91 $1.91

65.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.10 $3.10

25.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.30 $2.30

17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.17 $2.17

16.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$8.73 $8.73

30.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.71 $14.71

6.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.94 $3.94

8.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.83 $1.83

48.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$48.10 $48.10

105.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.98 $1.98

30.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.34 $1.34

21.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$19.75 $19.75

50.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.76 $0.76

50.00%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

28.57%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.3K $24.3K

8.87%

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

$264 $264

$146 $146

80.99%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$52.0 $52.0

18.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$74.4 $74.4

1.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$98.8 $98.8

-21.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.93 $14.93

7.90%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,081 $1,081

104.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$11.9K $11.9K

144.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$43.02 $43.02

61.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$21.68 $21.68

147.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$74.1 $74.1

60.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$89.3 $89.3

58.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$764 $764

208.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$955 $955

92.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$1,437 $1,437

226.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,708 $1,708

109.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$1,548 $1,548

387.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,574 $1,574

220.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,577 $3,577

80.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.61

-2.87%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sioux City, IA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $764 in Sioux City, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $54.0 in Sioux City, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $327 per month, with Sioux City, IA 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 Sioux City, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux City, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 81% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $764 in Sioux City, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sioux City, IA – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,127 in Sioux City, IA – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,127 in Sioux City, IA versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sioux City, IA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Sioux City, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sioux City, IA 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 Sioux City, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.