Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and South Portland, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and South Portland, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,836 in South Portland, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $4,078 in South Portland, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $5,319 in South Portland, ME.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 28% more expensive than South Portland, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, South Portland, ME 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$19.86 $19.86

24.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$70.3 $70.3

68.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$12.12 $12.12

13.70%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.96 $4.96

13.10%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.92 $2.92

-1.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.31 $2.31

6.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.90 $5.90

34.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.19 $7.19

14.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.97 $0.97

43.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.39 $3.39

43.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.80 $5.80

-11.03%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.11 $4.11

60.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$16.43 $16.43

52.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$10.50 $10.50

50.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$16.68 $16.68

21.82%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$3.34 $3.34

86.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.46 $1.46

87.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.10 $4.10

30.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$7.50 $7.50

-13.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.16 $3.16

-2.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.94 $2.94

31.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.88 $1.88

46.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.58 $1.58

61.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$12.38 $12.38

-8.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.04 $15.04

2.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.70 $1.70

67.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.04 $3.04

39.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.97 $1.97

36.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.02 $2.02

27.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.69 $1.69

1.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$28.64 $28.64

5.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.89 $0.89

29.21%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

22.63%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

5.07%

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

$263 $263

$208 $208

26.84%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$55.6 $55.6

8.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$66.0 $66.0

12.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.74 $42.74

88.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

$29.91 $29.91

37.04%

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.93 $14.93

6.56%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$404 $404

464.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$15.2K $15.2K

96.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$48.15 $48.15

45.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.50 $33.50

60.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$84.6 $84.6

40.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$134 $134

6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,981 $1,981

16.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,581 $1,581

15.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$3,311 $3,311

41.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,605 $2,605

34.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,704 $2,704

201.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,328 $2,328

123.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$4,322 $4,322

51.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.71

-4.32%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for South Portland, ME: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,981 in South Portland, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 52% 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 $70.0 in South Portland, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $401 per month, with South Portland, ME 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 South Portland, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

South Portland, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 52% more on average, 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,981 in South Portland, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $404 in South Portland, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in South Portland, ME – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $119 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. South Portland, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, South Portland, ME 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 South Portland, ME 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 South Portland, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.