Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sterling Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Sterling

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,662 in Sterling.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,921 in Sterling.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,180 in Sterling.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 36% more expensive than in Sterling, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Sterling 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.12 $20.12

24.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$85.8 $85.8

37.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$13.33 $13.33

3.23%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.48 $5.48

6.75%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.75 $2.75

10.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.33 $2.33

2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.18 $6.18

28.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.91 $7.91

-0.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.98 $0.98

41.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.44 $3.44

41.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.12 $2.12

144.34%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.88 $4.88

37.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$19.22 $19.22

31.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.95 $11.95

33.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$18.28 $18.28

10.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.79 $4.79

29.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.27 $1.27

126.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$7.02 $7.02

-21.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$6.49 $6.49

-1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.54 $3.54

-12.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.73 $2.73

39.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.19 $2.19

27.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.44 $2.44

6.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$9.16 $9.16

24.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$13.84 $13.84

12.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.72 $1.72

73.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$5.13 $5.13

-17.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.60 $4.60

-41.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.38 $1.38

23.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$28.75 $28.75

2.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$26.5K $26.5K

25.55%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.75%

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

$261 $261

$205 $205

27.21%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$52.6 $52.6

14.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$74.4 $74.4

1.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$29.22 $29.22

169.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.98 $14.98

5.61%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,771 $1,771

24.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

25.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$47.30 $47.30

47.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$44.30 $44.30

17.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$97.3 $97.3

20.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$121 $121

14.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,255 $1,255

84.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,356 $1,356

37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,028 $2,028

133.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,254 $2,254

58.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$3,272 $3,272

133.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,397 $2,397

109.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$3,688 $3,688

76.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.57

-2.28%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sterling: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,255 in Sterling. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 77% 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 $86.0 in Sterling for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $437 per month, with Sterling 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 Sterling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sterling is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 77% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,255 in Sterling. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,210 in Seattle, WA versus $1,771 in Sterling. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sterling – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Sterling is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.