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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,320 in State College, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,479 in State College, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,638 in State College, PA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 55% more expensive than State College, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, State College, PA 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$17.72 $17.72

39.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$52.0 $52.0

126.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$8.81 $8.81

56.30%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.44 $4.44

28.60%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.76 $2.76

10.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.01 $2.01

24.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.12 $5.12

52.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.03 $7.03

12.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.95 $0.95

42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.50 $3.50

44.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$1.94 $1.94

177.84%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.87 $3.87

77.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$9.82 $9.82

155.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.51 $8.51

86.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$11.87 $11.87

73.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.58 $3.58

71.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.56 $1.56

80.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.14 $5.14

7.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.92 $4.92

36.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.03 $2.03

55.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.87 $2.87

33.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.13 $2.13

26.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.54 $1.54

71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$13.87 $13.87

-16.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$17.97 $17.97

-12.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.68 $1.68

74.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$7.27 $7.27

-41.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.26 $2.26

24.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$85.1 $85.1

17.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$5.24 $5.24

-50.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.22 $2.22

-22.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$44.26 $44.26

-31.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.89 $0.89

33.71%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$24.0K $24.0K

36.44%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.8K $23.8K

9.85%

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

$263 $263

$155 $155

69.01%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$39.87 $39.87

52.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$60.7 $60.7

25.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$25.23 $25.23

215.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$12.21 $12.21

33.25%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$906 $906

151.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$28.8K $28.8K

1.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$45.79 $45.79

49.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.51 $40.51

28.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$80.6 $80.6

43.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

26.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,479 $1,479

57.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,183 $1,183

57.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,835 $2,835

63.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,023 $2,023

71.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,607 $2,607

197.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,213 $2,213

136.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,388 $4,388

50.79%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for State College, PA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,479 in State College, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 51% 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 $52.0 in State College, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 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 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 51% 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 $1,479 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 $52.0 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 $2,320 in State College, PA – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,320 in State College, PA versus $3,598 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 55% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.