Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Staunton, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Staunton, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,240 in Staunton, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,381 in Staunton, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,523 in Staunton, VA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 73% more expensive than in Staunton, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Staunton, VA 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.26 $20.26

23.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$78.5 $78.5

27.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.90 $11.90

26.55%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.16 $6.16

3.41%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.15 $3.15

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.54 $2.54

18.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$3.95 $3.95

97.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$5.36 $5.36

53.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.08 $1.08

12.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.22 $3.22

54.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$7.04 $7.04

-9.23%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.72 $5.72

-10.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$11.35 $11.35

85.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.09 $15.09

21.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$15.56 $15.56

54.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.35 $6.35

-7.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.54 $1.54

22.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.12 $5.12

3.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.98 $5.98

8.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.90 $2.90

26.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.88 $3.88

-13.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.02 $2.02

38.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.66 $2.66

-3.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.43 $9.43

47.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.19 $16.19

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.30 $3.30

29.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.60 $5.60

4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.99 $3.99

-35.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.63 $1.63

5.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$24.89 $24.89

22.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.88 $0.88

59.09%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.9K $36.9K

-2.07%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.9K $26.9K

-5.35%

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

$299 $299

$175 $175

71.36%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$81.9 $81.9

-15.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$29.59 $29.59

196.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$44.23 $44.23

81.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$13.28 $13.28

33.28%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$3,180 $3,180

-5.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$42.2K $42.2K

-26.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$74.1 $74.1

4.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.58 $43.58

26.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$106 $106

20.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$126 $126

26.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,334 $1,334

86.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$893 $893

116.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,665 $1,665

185.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,496 $1,496

143.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,240 $2,240

238.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,278 $2,278

124.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,066 $4,066

52.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.23

3.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Staunton, VA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,334 in Staunton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 53% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $78.0 in Staunton, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $458 per month, with Staunton, VA 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 Staunton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Staunton, VA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 53% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,334 in Staunton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $3,180 in Staunton, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Staunton, VA – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Staunton, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Staunton, VA 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 Staunton, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.