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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,095 in Tempe, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,942 in Tempe, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,789 in Tempe, AZ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 16% more expensive than Tempe, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Tempe, AZ 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$18.84 $18.84

31.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$78.5 $78.5

49.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.77 $11.77

16.99%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.32 $5.32

7.33%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.75 $2.75

10.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.23 $2.23

12.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.98 $5.98

30.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.17 $7.17

9.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.90 $0.90

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.22 $4.22

19.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.33 $5.33

1.13%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.82 $4.82

42.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.08 $11.08

126.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$11.72 $11.72

35.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.87 $14.87

38.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.79 $4.79

28.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.48 $1.48

90.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.03 $4.03

36.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.01 $5.01

34.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.50 $2.50

26.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.68 $2.68

42.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.28 $2.28

15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.59 $10.59

10.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.53 $13.53

15.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.15 $2.15

36.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.43 $3.43

23.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$60.2 $60.2

66.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.67 $2.67

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.34 $1.34

28.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$35.91 $35.91

-15.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.87 $0.87

36.78%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

7.37%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.29%

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

$263 $263

$254 $254

3.31%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$70.8 $70.8

-13.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$83.1 $83.1

-8.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$29.88 $29.88

166.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$15.12 $15.12

163.82%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.20 $13.20

23.26%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,083 $1,083

110.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$15.4K $15.4K

90.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$55.7 $55.7

23.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.58 $40.58

28.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$89.3 $89.3

29.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$105 $105

36.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,926 $1,926

21.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,723 $1,723

8.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,478 $2,478

86.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,833 $1,833

89.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$4,025 $4,025

64.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.54

-1.83%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tempe, AZ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,926 in Tempe, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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 $79.0 in Tempe, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $395 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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 $1,926 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 $79.0 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 $3,095 in Tempe, AZ – a 16% 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 16% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.