Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and State College, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and State College, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,380 in State College, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,510 in Seattle, WA versus $3,477 in State College, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,481 in Seattle, WA versus $4,575 in State College, PA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 49% more expensive than State College, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 163% above, State College, PA 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.25 $25.25

$18.03 $18.03

40.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$51.0 $51.0

135.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.79 $13.79

$8.86 $8.86

55.64%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.54 $4.54

23.57%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.61 $2.61

14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.04 $2.04

22.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.90 $4.90

60.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.03 $7.03

12.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.93 $0.93

46.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.47 $3.47

40.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.02 $2.02

162.87%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.92 $3.92

68.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

$9.92 $9.92

146.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$8.58 $8.58

86.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$11.92 $11.92

72.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.70 $3.70

64.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.57 $1.57

83.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.94 $4.94

12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.95 $4.95

36.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.03 $2.03

57.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.82 $2.82

34.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.07 $2.07

31.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.50 $1.50

74.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$13.96 $13.96

-16.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$17.93 $17.93

-11.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.78 $1.78

60.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$7.38 $7.38

-40.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.26 $2.26

19.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.9 $98.9

$84.2 $84.2

17.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$5.25 $5.25

-49.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.30 $2.30

-28.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

$45.43 $45.43

-34.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.96 $0.96

18.75%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$23.8K $23.8K

37.09%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

10.54%

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

$264 $264

$161 $161

64.41%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$39.79 $39.79

52.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$60.9 $60.9

25.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$24.91 $24.91

213.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$11.91 $11.91

35.94%

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

$2,253 $2,253

$893 $893

152.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$28.5K $28.5K

4.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 $70.5

$45.28 $45.28

55.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 $51.8

$40.18 $40.18

28.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$80.8 $80.8

47.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$115 $115

24.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$1,505 $1,505

58.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,190 $1,190

58.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 $4,752

$2,837 $2,837

67.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,585 $3,585

$1,992 $1,992

79.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,850 $7,850

$2,623 $2,623

199.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,213 $5,213

$2,181 $2,181

139.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,446 $6,446

$4,372 $4,372

47.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for State College, PA: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,381 in Seattle, WA and $1,505 in State College, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 47% 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: $120 in Seattle, WA vs $51 in State College, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $346 per month, with State College, PA 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 State College, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

State College, PA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 47% 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: $2,381 in Seattle, WA versus $1,505 in State College, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in State College, PA – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,539 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,380 in State College, PA – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,380 in State College, PA versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in State College, PA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes State College, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, State College, PA 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 State College, PA 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 State College, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.