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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $1,935 in Topeka, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $2,916 in Topeka, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $3,896 in Topeka, KS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 100% more expensive than in Topeka, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Topeka, KS 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$15.09 $15.09

65.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$52.2 $52.2

91.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.18 $12.18

23.65%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$3.45 $3.45

84.64%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.28 $2.28

35.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.77 $1.77

69.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.47 $4.47

74.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.65 $7.65

7.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.86 $0.86

40.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.80 $2.80

78.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.03 $3.03

110.89%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.01 $4.01

27.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$8.56 $8.56

145.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$9.17 $9.17

100.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.95 $16.95

41.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.77 $4.77

23.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.63 $1.63

15.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.18 $5.18

2.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.15 $4.15

55.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.05 $3.05

20.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.59 $2.59

29.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.91 $1.91

46.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.80 $0.80

222.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.27 $9.27

50.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$11.86 $11.86

26.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.80 $1.80

137.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$1.71 $1.71

242.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$4.05 $4.05

-27.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$51.0 $51.0

113.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.69 $2.69

-4.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.51 $1.51

13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$33.18 $33.18

-8.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.82 $0.82

70.73%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$23.8K $23.8K

51.83%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

2.85%

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

$299 $299

$121 $121

146.87%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$49.88 $49.88

39.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$65.3 $65.3

34.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$45.45 $45.45

76.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$15.14 $15.14

130.71%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.92 $14.92

18.63%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$445 $445

578.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$38.38 $38.38

101.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$28.78 $28.78

91.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$89.0 $89.0

44.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$79.4 $79.4

100.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$790 $790

214.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$856 $856

125.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$1,313 $1,313

262.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,487 $1,487

144.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$1,275 $1,275

494.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,371 $1,371

272.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,616 $3,616

72.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Topeka, KS: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $790 in Topeka, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 72% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $52.0 in Topeka, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $330 per month, with Topeka, KS 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 Topeka, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Topeka, KS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 72% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $790 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 $52.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,935 in Topeka, KS – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,935 in Topeka, KS versus $3,880 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.

For families, Topeka, KS 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 Topeka, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.