Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and The Dalles, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and The Dalles, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,642 in The Dalles, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,846 in The Dalles, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $5,049 in The Dalles, OR.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than The Dalles, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, The Dalles, OR 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$27.71 $27.71

-10.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$70.9 $70.9

67.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.76 $11.76

17.18%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$6.14 $6.14

-8.63%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$3.44 $3.44

-15.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.69 $2.69

-8.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.86 $6.86

16.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.13 $6.13

33.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.05 $1.05

32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.25 $3.25

49.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.16 $4.16

24.04%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$2.94 $2.94

124.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$17.64 $17.64

42.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$10.66 $10.66

47.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$11.10 $11.10

83.06%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$6.76 $6.76

-7.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.63 $1.63

68.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.34 $4.34

22.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.51 $4.51

43.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.92 $2.92

5.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.74 $2.74

40.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.48 $2.48

10.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.98 $1.98

28.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$12.55 $12.55

-9.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.76 $14.76

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.90 $1.90

49.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.58 $4.58

-7.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.97 $1.97

36.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$44.51 $44.51

119.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.10 $5.10

-49.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.22 $1.22

40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$52.9 $52.9

-42.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.12 $1.12

2.68%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$35.5K $35.5K

-6.34%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.98%

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

$263 $263

$121 $121

117.68%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$60.4 $60.4

-0.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$68.9 $68.9

7.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$43.25 $43.25

86.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$11.01 $11.01

44.50%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$995 $995

129.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.1K $23.1K

28.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$40.26 $40.26

73.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.69 $34.69

55.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$60.4 $60.4

97.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$79.6 $79.6

79.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,584 $1,584

45.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,369 $1,369

33.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,631 $2,631

78.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,232 $2,232

56.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,762 $2,762

195.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,234 $2,234

132.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.66

-3.60%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for The Dalles, OR: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,584 in The Dalles, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $71.0 in The Dalles, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $390 per month, with The Dalles, OR 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 The Dalles, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

The Dalles, OR is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,452 in Seattle, WA and $3,963 in The Dalles, OR to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,584 in The Dalles, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in The Dalles, OR – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,642 in The Dalles, OR – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. The Dalles, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, The Dalles, OR 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 The Dalles, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.