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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,737 in University Place, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,118 in University Place, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,499 in University Place, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 42% more expensive than in University Place, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, University Place, WA 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$22.47 $22.47

11.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$122 $122

-18.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.96 $11.96

25.92%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.08 $6.08

4.77%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.25 $3.25

-5.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.65 $2.65

13.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.99 $7.99

-2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$12.15 $12.15

-32.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.04 $1.04

16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.02 $4.02

24.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$2.84 $2.84

125.00%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.31 $5.31

-3.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.80 $14.80

42.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$22.23 $22.23

-17.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$23.30 $23.30

3.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.44 $5.44

8.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.69 $1.69

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.51 $5.51

-3.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.31 $4.31

50.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.75 $2.75

33.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.91 $2.91

15.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.99 $1.99

40.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.94 $2.94

-12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.84 $11.84

17.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$18.27 $18.27

-17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.72 $1.72

148.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.62 $3.62

61.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.72 $1.72

69.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.66 $2.66

-3.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.70 $1.70

1.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$29.57 $29.57

2.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.39 $1.39

0.72%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.4K $36.4K

-0.97%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.24%

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

$299 $299

$158 $158

89.34%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.0 $53.0

30.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$85.6 $85.6

2.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$41.55 $41.55

93.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$19.29 $19.29

-8.24%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,924 $1,924

56.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$31.6K $31.6K

-1.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$61.0 $61.0

26.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$37.12 $37.12

48.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$101 $101

27.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$114 $114

39.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,564 $1,564

59.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,299 $1,299

48.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,531 $2,531

87.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,106 $2,106

72.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$3,021 $3,021

150.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$2,249 $2,249

127.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$8,023 $8,023

-22.48%

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 University Place, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,564 in University Place, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $122 in University Place, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $552 vs $499, with University Place, WA 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 University Place, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

University Place, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 29% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,564 in University Place, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,924 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 $122 versus $100 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 42% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.