Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Topeka, KS

For one person, living is cheaper in Topeka, KS: $1,912 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $22,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
91

Cost of Living Index in Topeka, KS
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Topeka, KS Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Topeka, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$1,912

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Topeka, KS

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Topeka, KS actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,785 in Seattle, WA versus $1,912 in Topeka, KS.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Topeka, KS $1,912

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,688 in Seattle, WA versus $2,889 in Topeka, KS.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Topeka, KS $2,889

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,592 in Seattle, WA versus $3,867 in Topeka, KS.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Topeka, KS $3,867

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 98% more expensive than in Topeka, KS, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 178% above, Topeka, KS 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$13.68 $13.68

84.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$51.0 $51.0

97.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$10.09 $10.09

46.28%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$3.59 $3.59

81.06%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.37 $2.37

35.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.71 $1.71

83.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.57 $4.57

74.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$9.15 $9.15

-11.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.86 $0.86

36.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.74 $2.74

93.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.89 $2.89

121.45%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$3.95 $3.95

28.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$8.77 $8.77

113.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$8.70 $8.70

115.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$15.10 $15.10

51.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.73 $4.73

28.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.65 $1.65

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.20 $5.20

5.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.11 $4.11

58.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.54 $3.54

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.58 $2.58

27.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.82 $1.82

53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.79 $0.79

226.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$8.83 $8.83

41.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$12.03 $12.03

23.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.81 $1.81

131.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$1.71 $1.71

239.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.02 $2.02

50.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$49.63 $49.63

113.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.70 $2.70

-4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.59 $1.59

3.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$33.59 $33.59

-10.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.88 $0.88

60.23%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

43.37%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.4K $26.4K

0.80%

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

$308 $308

$142 $142

116.11%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$46.56 $46.56

48.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$64.7 $64.7

33.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$37.70 $37.70

102.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

$15.07 $15.07

135.57%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$13.74 $13.74

31.15%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$439 $439

525.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$39.15 $39.15

102.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$28.48 $28.48

90.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$90.3 $90.3

40.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$79.6 $79.6

99.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$699 $699

258.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$855 $855

126.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$1,210 $1,210

322.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$1,556 $1,556

127.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$1,600 $1,600

360.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$1,293 $1,293

286.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$3,678 $3,678

75.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.24

10.42%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Topeka, KS: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Topeka, KS

$855 44.7% 55.9% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Topeka, KS

$323 16.9% 41% $224

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Topeka, KS

$254 13.3% 45.2% $209

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Topeka, KS

$240 12.6% 40.8% $166

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Topeka, KS

$107 5.6% 43.4% $82

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Topeka, KS

$68 3.6% 47% $61

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Topeka, KS

$65 3.4% 42% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,508 in Seattle, WA and $699 in Topeka, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 76% 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 $51 in Topeka, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $323 per month, with Topeka, KS cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Topeka, KS

🕒 Local time

09:27 9:27 AM

11:27 11:27 AM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

124,331

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Seattle, WA Topeka, KS 2,340 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Topeka, KS

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Topeka, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Topeka, KS is about 49% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 76% 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: $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $699 in Topeka, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Topeka, KS – a meal for two runs $51 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,912 in Topeka, KS – Topeka, KS is about 49% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

At $1,912 in Topeka, KS versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Topeka, KS but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Topeka, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Topeka, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.