Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Springfield, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Springfield, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,167 in Springfield, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,295 in Springfield, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,423 in Springfield, MA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 14% more expensive than Springfield, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Springfield, MA 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.86 $18.86

31.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$80.0 $80.0

47.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.82 $12.82

7.41%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.98 $5.98

-4.52%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.82 $2.82

8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.90 $1.90

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.88 $4.88

60.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.02 $6.02

30.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.02 $1.02

32.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.61 $2.61

93.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.79 $4.79

12.53%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.54 $3.54

93.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$13.87 $13.87

80.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$13.02 $13.02

21.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.68 $17.68

16.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.57 $4.57

34.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.43 $1.43

97.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.49 $4.49

22.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.98 $4.98

35.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.99 $2.99

5.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.03 $3.03

26.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.22 $1.22

116.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$12.48 $12.48

-6.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.76 $14.76

6.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.69 $1.69

73.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.92 $3.92

8.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.48 $1.48

90.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$53.1 $53.1

88.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.88 $4.88

-46.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.11 $2.11

-18.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$27.66 $27.66

9.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.90 $0.90

32.22%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$27.8K $27.8K

17.56%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.35%

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

$263 $263

$208 $208

26.16%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$58.7 $58.7

3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$76.8 $76.8

-1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$26.81 $26.81

196.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.11 $15.11

7.68%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,380 $1,380

65.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$27.8K $27.8K

5.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$49.87 $49.87

37.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$45.82 $45.82

13.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$82.2 $82.2

40.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$105 $105

37.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,283 $1,283

82.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,771 $1,771

5.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,398 $2,398

93.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,593 $2,593

34.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,433 $2,433

219.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,451 $2,451

113.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,796 $3,796

74.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Springfield, MA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,283 in Springfield, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 74% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $80.0 in Springfield, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $387 per month, with Springfield, MA 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 Springfield, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 74% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,283 in Springfield, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Springfield, MA – 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.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,167 in Springfield, MA – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $3,167 in Springfield, MA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Springfield, MA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Springfield, MA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Springfield, MA 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 Springfield, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.