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: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,562 in The Dalles, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,770 in The Dalles, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,979 in The Dalles, OR.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 52% more expensive than in The Dalles, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, The Dalles, OR 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$20.35 $20.35

24.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.96 $10.96

35.04%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.68 $4.68

41.67%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.50 $2.50

23.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.97 $1.97

50.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.88 $4.88

62.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.87 $6.87

14.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.04 $1.04

17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.29 $3.29

56.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.23 $4.23

45.63%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.92 $2.92

73.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$14.85 $14.85

43.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$13.66 $13.66

34.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$11.11 $11.11

107.38%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.79 $4.79

26.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.79 $1.79

5.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.92 $3.92

32.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.98 $3.98

60.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.05 $3.05

23.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.26 $3.26

1.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.78 $1.78

61.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.96 $1.96

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$13.39 $13.39

3.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.98 $14.98

0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.69 $1.69

146.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.88 $2.88

95.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.03 $2.03

46.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$44.46 $44.46

141.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.40 $3.40

-24.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.22 $2.22

-25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$49.26 $49.26

-40.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.19 $1.19

22.69%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$33.9K $33.9K

6.20%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

7.33%

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

$306 $306

$193 $193

58.70%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$59.8 $59.8

17.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$69.2 $69.2

26.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$41.67 $41.67

91.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$11.94 $11.94

49.50%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,019 $1,019

196.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$16.8K $16.8K

85.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$40.56 $40.56

88.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.79 $34.79

54.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$59.7 $59.7

110.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$78.9 $78.9

105.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,561 $1,561

57.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,122 $1,122

76.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,526 $2,526

93.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,091 $2,091

73.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,445 $2,445

201.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,658 $2,658

88.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,979 $3,979

54.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,561 in The Dalles, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 55% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in The Dalles, OR. Groceries flip the comparison at $551 vs $379, with The Dalles, OR cheaper for home cooking.

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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 55% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,561 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 $101 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,562 in The Dalles, OR – a 52% 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 52% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.