Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Tempe, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Tempe, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $3,207 in Tempe, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,031 in Tempe, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,856 in Tempe, AZ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 20% more expensive than in Tempe, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Tempe, AZ 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$19.88 $19.88

24.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$79.8 $79.8

24.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.95 $12.95

16.53%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.26 $5.26

25.86%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.00 $3.00

4.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.41 $2.41

23.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.96 $5.96

36.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.35 $7.35

6.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.00 $1.00

17.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.30 $4.30

20.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$6.22 $6.22

2.89%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$4.80 $4.80

2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$13.40 $13.40

60.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.74 $13.74

35.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$17.38 $17.38

32.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.68 $5.68

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.80 $1.80

4.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.17 $4.17

29.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.04 $5.04

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.57 $2.57

47.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.98 $2.98

9.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.23 $2.23

28.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.36 $2.36

14.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$10.50 $10.50

34.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$13.66 $13.66

10.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.51 $2.51

73.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.13 $3.13

83.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.99 $1.99

53.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$64.1 $64.1

71.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.69 $2.69

-4.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.36 $1.36

21.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$35.99 $35.99

-16.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.06 $1.06

30.19%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

2.33%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

-3.16%

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

$296 $296

$231 $231

28.13%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$59.6 $59.6

19.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$75.1 $75.1

17.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$29.42 $29.42

176.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$14.74 $14.74

142.20%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.70 $13.70

33.80%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,081 $1,081

183.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$15.9K $15.9K

92.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$62.0 $62.0

24.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$45.04 $45.04

19.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$97.9 $97.9

30.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$113 $113

45.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,853 $1,853

30.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,746 $1,746

10.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,547 $2,547

86.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$1,708 $1,708

109.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,007 $4,007

57.72%

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 Tempe, AZ: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,853 in Tempe, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 58% 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 $80.0 in Tempe, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $436 per month, with Tempe, AZ 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 Tempe, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tempe, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 58% 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 $1,853 in Tempe, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Tempe, AZ – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,207 in Tempe, AZ – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Tempe, AZ 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 Tempe, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.