Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and St. Augustine, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and St. Augustine, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,851 in St. Augustine, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,912 in St. Augustine, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,973 in St. Augustine, FL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 35% more expensive than in St. Augustine, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, St. Augustine, FL 107% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$21.33 $21.33

15.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$73.7 $73.7

34.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$9.46 $9.46

59.51%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.08 $5.08

30.31%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.27 $2.27

37.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.47 $1.47

102.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.98 $4.98

63.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.84 $6.84

14.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.82 $0.82

42.68%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$1.96 $1.96

165.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.16 $3.16

102.53%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.59 $4.59

6.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$13.35 $13.35

60.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$11.39 $11.39

63.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$14.99 $14.99

53.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.68 $4.68

23.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.50 $1.50

25.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.38 $4.38

22.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$3.24 $3.24

94.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.70 $1.70

123.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.36 $3.36

-2.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.29 $2.29

25.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$6.88 $6.88

105.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.05 $14.05

7.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.14 $2.14

103.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.48 $2.48

131.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$9.93 $9.93

-74.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.91 $1.91

-13.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.85 $0.85

62.35%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.6K $36.6K

-0.45%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

-2.58%

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

$296 $296

$118 $118

151.52%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$62.2 $62.2

14.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$77.5 $77.5

13.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$39.88 $39.88

104.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$24.94 $24.94

43.14%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.91 $12.91

41.98%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$903 $903

239.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$8,000 $8,000

281.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$73.5 $73.5

4.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$56.4 $56.4

-4.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$79.1 $79.1

61.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$102 $102

62.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,829 $1,829

32.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,655 $1,655

16.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,156 $3,156

50.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,384 $2,384

50.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,279 $3,279

125.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,665 $2,665

89.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,488 $4,488

40.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.21

3.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for St. Augustine, FL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,829 in St. Augustine, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 41% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in St. Augustine, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $355 per month, with St. Augustine, FL 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 St. Augustine, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St. Augustine, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% 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: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,829 in St. Augustine, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $903 in St. Augustine, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in St. Augustine, FL – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, St. Augustine, FL 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 St. Augustine, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.