Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Spokane, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Spokane, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,702 in Spokane, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $4,042 in Spokane, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $5,382 in Spokane, WA.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$24.71 $24.71

1.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$74.8 $74.8

59.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.83 $12.83

8.34%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.65 $4.65

19.57%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.40 $2.40

27.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.32 $2.32

6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.33 $6.33

25.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$5.91 $5.91

35.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.02 $1.02

31.37%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.93 $2.93

72.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.95 $4.95

8.28%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.41 $4.41

49.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$16.39 $16.39

54.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$15.52 $15.52

4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$16.44 $16.44

23.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.78 $4.78

24.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.88 $1.88

45.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.93 $4.93

8.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$5.69 $5.69

16.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.35 $3.35

-2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.65 $2.65

43.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.05 $2.05

33.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.35 $2.35

7.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$11.51 $11.51

-1.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$14.15 $14.15

15.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.90 $1.90

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.97 $4.97

-16.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.06 $2.06

30.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$58.8 $58.8

65.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$5.12 $5.12

-47.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.69 $1.69

2.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$39.80 $39.80

-25.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.17 $1.17

2.56%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$33.2K $33.2K

1.17%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.34%

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

$266 $266

$165 $165

61.19%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$64.9 $64.9

-6.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$71.7 $71.7

6.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$43.87 $43.87

80.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

$15.27 $15.27

165.29%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$14.44 $14.44

12.33%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,418 $1,418

60.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$15.8K $15.8K

87.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$52.3 $52.3

33.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$50.0 $50.0

5.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$116 $116

3.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$145 $145

-1.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,585 $1,585

50.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,323 $1,323

41.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,893 $2,893

63.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,168 $2,168

61.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$3,331 $3,331

131.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,318 $2,318

132.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$4,181 $4,181

55.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.64

-3.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Spokane, WA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,585 in Spokane, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 55% 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 $75 in Spokane, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $436 per month, with Spokane, WA 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 Spokane, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Spokane, WA 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.

Seattle, WA pays 55% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,585 in Spokane, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Spokane, WA – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,702 in Spokane, WA – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Spokane, WA 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 Spokane, WA 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.