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: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $1,876 in Topeka, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,023 in Topeka, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,169 in Topeka, KS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 92% more expensive than in Topeka, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Topeka, KS 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$13.71 $13.71

80.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$53.4 $53.4

127.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.87 $9.87

42.05%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.55 $3.55

56.62%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.22 $2.22

37.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.52 $1.52

57.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.09 $5.09

55.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$5.98 $5.98

35.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.84 $0.84

64.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.20 $3.20

54.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.18 $2.18

145.41%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.30 $4.30

53.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$8.72 $8.72

185.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.06 $11.06

43.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$12.95 $12.95

56.06%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.59 $5.59

10.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.64 $4.64

15.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.19 $4.19

55.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.78 $3.78

-15.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.47 $2.47

51.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.86 $1.86

52.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.98 $0.98

167.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.15 $9.15

27.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$12.01 $12.01

28.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.74 $1.74

62.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$1.70 $1.70

150.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.40 $4.40

-37.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$49.61 $49.61

97.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.73 $2.73

-4.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.35 $1.35

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$33.18 $33.18

-10.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.73 $0.73

56.16%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$23.6K $23.6K

40.41%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.22%

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

$270 $270

$111 $111

142.33%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$50.6 $50.6

18.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$64.4 $64.4

15.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$57.7 $57.7

34.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

$15.07 $15.07

172.26%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$12.65 $12.65

24.74%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$443 $443

414.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$22.19 $22.19

214.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$19.80 $19.80

163.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$70.9 $70.9

65.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$80.9 $80.9

77.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$763 $763

205.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$856 $856

121.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,862 $1,862

155.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,811 $1,811

91.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$1,352 $1,352

470.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$1,348 $1,348

269.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,491 $3,491

90.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.11

5.07%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Topeka, KS: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $763 in Topeka, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 90% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $53.0 in Topeka, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $338 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 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 90% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $763 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 $53.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,876 in Topeka, KS – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,876 in Topeka, KS versus $3,604 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 92% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.