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: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,662 in The Dalles, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,880 in The Dalles, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,097 in The Dalles, OR.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$26.99 $26.99

-7.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$71.2 $71.2

65.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.80 $11.80

16.61%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$6.11 $6.11

-4.26%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.37 $3.37

-9.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.73 $2.73

-12.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.80 $6.80

16.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.06 $6.06

29.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.00 $1.00

39.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.39 $3.39

43.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.22 $4.22

22.75%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$2.95 $2.95

126.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$17.46 $17.46

44.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.36 $10.36

53.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$10.84 $10.84

85.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$6.69 $6.69

-7.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.59 $1.59

81.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.19 $4.19

30.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.32 $4.32

47.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.02 $3.02

2.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.77 $2.77

37.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.55 $2.55

9.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.98 $1.98

31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$12.31 $12.31

-7.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$14.98 $14.98

4.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.97 $1.97

51.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.74 $4.74

-10.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$45.26 $45.26

122.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.88 $4.88

-45.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.27 $1.27

33.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$52.9 $52.9

-44.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.13 $1.13

0.88%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$35.5K $35.5K

-6.21%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.07%

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

$261 $261

$124 $124

110.18%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$60.8 $60.8

-0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$70.5 $70.5

7.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$43.20 $43.20

82.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$10.84 $10.84

45.94%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$998 $998

121.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

25.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$40.64 $40.64

71.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$34.86 $34.86

49.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$60.0 $60.0

94.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$81.1 $81.1

71.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,572 $1,572

47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,359 $1,359

37.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,645 $2,645

78.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,260 $2,260

57.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,901 $2,901

163.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,268 $2,268

121.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for The Dalles, OR: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,572 in The Dalles, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $71.0 in The Dalles, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $388 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 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,431 in Seattle, WA and $3,994 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,572 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 $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,662 in The Dalles, OR – a 36% 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 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.