Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and University Place, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and University Place, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,693 in University Place, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,985 in University Place, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $5,276 in University Place, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 34% more expensive than in University Place, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, University Place, WA 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$16.66 $16.66

48.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$117 $117

4.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$12.60 $12.60

11.27%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.02 $6.02

-7.64%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.94 $2.94

3.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.47 $2.47

-3.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$9.24 $9.24

-14.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$11.80 $11.80

-31.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.08 $1.08

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.20 $4.20

17.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.78 $2.78

92.45%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.73 $4.73

39.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$11.38 $11.38

118.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$16.16 $16.16

-1.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$19.49 $19.49

3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.03 $5.03

22.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.64 $1.64

68.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.06 $5.06

6.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.74 $3.74

74.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.39 $3.39

-5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.75 $2.75

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.97 $1.97

44.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.02 $3.02

-13.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$11.02 $11.02

6.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$18.74 $18.74

-17.50%

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

$3.43 $3.43

23.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.98 $1.98

39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.67 $2.67

-2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.95 $1.95

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.69 $29.69

0.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.19 $1.19

-4.20%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$30.1K $30.1K

10.27%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.64%

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

$270 $270

$157 $157

72.22%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$52.7 $52.7

13.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$89.5 $89.5

-16.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$43.32 $43.32

79.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$17.77 $17.77

-11.20%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$2,070 $2,070

10.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

0.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$59.4 $59.4

17.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$36.81 $36.81

41.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$98.9 $98.9

18.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$115 $115

25.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,615 $1,615

44.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,374 $1,374

38.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,664 $2,664

78.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,258 $2,258

53.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,758 $2,758

179.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,148 $2,148

131.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$7,932 $7,932

-16.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for University Place, WA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,615 in University Place, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $117 in University Place, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $443 per month, with University Place, WA 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 University Place, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

University Place, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in University Place, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,615 in University Place, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $2,070 in University Place, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in University Place, WA – a meal for two runs $117 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. University Place, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, University Place, WA 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and University Place, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find University Place, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.