Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waco, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waco, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,775 in Seattle, WA versus $2,416 in Waco, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,719 in Seattle, WA versus $3,044 in Waco, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,662 in Seattle, WA versus $3,671 in Waco, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 56% more expensive than in Waco, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 176% above, Waco, TX 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.31 $25.31

$14.95 $14.95

69.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$60.2 $60.2

67.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.93 $14.93

$10.38 $10.38

43.83%

Cappuccino

$6.58 $6.58

$5.65 $5.65

16.46%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.72 $1.72

77.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.47 $1.47

95.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.07 $5.07

58.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.53 $5.53

42.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.81 $0.81

45.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.18 $3.18

56.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$1.98 $1.98

206.57%

Eggs

$5.59 $5.59

$2.80 $2.80

99.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.27 $21.27

$12.26 $12.26

73.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.75 $18.75

$9.52 $9.52

96.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.07 $23.07

$11.90 $11.90

93.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$3.84 $3.84

50.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.18 $1.18

61.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.77 $3.77

40.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$3.60 $3.60

82.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.31 $2.31

49.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.90 $2.90

11.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.76 $1.76

57.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.99 $0.99

171.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 $14.20

$8.77 $8.77

61.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$13.89 $13.89

6.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$1.78 $1.78

133.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 $5.70

$3.94 $3.94

44.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.54 $1.54

90.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$40.23 $40.23

166.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$10.13 $10.13

-74.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.90 $1.90

-8.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.49 $30.49

$59.6 $59.6

-48.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.83 $0.83

72.29%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.6K $35.6K

1.31%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

-0.22%

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

$302 $302

$181 $181

66.97%

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

$70.6 $70.6

$37.18 $37.18

89.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$50.9 $50.9

66.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.0 $80.0

$27.41 $27.41

192.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.38 $35.38

Cinema Ticket

$17.72 $17.72

$9.22 $9.22

92.19%

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

$3,014 $3,014

$834 $834

261.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K $30.9K

$17.7K $17.7K

74.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.4 $82.4

$48.37 $48.37

70.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.0 $55.0

$38.60 $38.60

42.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$82.3 $82.3

53.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$96.6 $96.6

64.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 $2,465

$1,247 $1,247

97.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,957 $1,957

$1,322 $1,322

48.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,760 $4,760

$1,577 $1,577

201.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,568 $3,568

$1,363 $1,363

161.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,515 $7,515

$1,959 $1,959

283.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,964 $4,964

$1,940 $1,940

155.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,438 $6,438

$3,185 $3,185

102.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.03

3.65%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 17, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,465 in Seattle, WA and $1,247 in Waco, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 102% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $60.0 in Waco, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $315 per month, with Waco, TX 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 Waco, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waco, TX is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 102% 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: $2,465 in Seattle, WA versus $1,247 in Waco, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Waco, TX – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,775 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,416 in Waco, TX – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,416 in Waco, TX versus $3,775 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Waco, TX but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Waco, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Waco, TX 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 Waco, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.