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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,637 in University Place, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,035 in University Place, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,433 in University Place, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 36% more expensive than University Place, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, University Place, WA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$16.29 $16.29

52.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$116 $116

1.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.61 $12.61

9.20%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.23 $6.23

-8.35%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.93 $2.93

4.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.47 $2.47

1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$9.09 $9.09

-13.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$11.78 $11.78

-33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.13 $1.13

19.47%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.22 $4.22

19.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.71 $2.71

98.89%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.94 $4.94

38.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.32 $11.32

121.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$16.32 $16.32

-2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.04 $19.04

8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.28 $5.28

16.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.63 $1.63

73.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.98 $4.98

10.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.74 $3.74

80.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.32 $3.32

-5.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.82 $2.82

35.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.00 $2.00

34.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.03 $3.03

-12.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.06 $11.06

5.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$18.80 $18.80

-16.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.72 $1.72

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.46 $3.46

22.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.95 $1.95

44.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.56 $2.56

1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.95 $1.95

-11.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.84 $29.84

1.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.15 $1.15

3.48%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

8.69%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.74%

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

$263 $263

$159 $159

65.35%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.3 $52.3

16.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$88.1 $88.1

-13.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.32 $42.32

88.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$17.74 $17.74

-8.29%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,052 $2,052

11.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$60.1 $60.1

14.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$37.35 $37.35

39.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$98.5 $98.5

17.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

27.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,594 $1,594

46.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,329 $1,329

40.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,589 $2,589

78.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,253 $2,253

54.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,770 $2,770

180.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,449 $2,449

113.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$7,868 $7,868

-15.90%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for University Place, WA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,594 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $116 in University Place, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $445 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 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, University Place, WA earns 19% less. 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,594 in University Place, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $2,052 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 $116 versus $118 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 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.