Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Walla Walla, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Walla Walla, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,775 in Seattle, WA versus $2,442 in Walla Walla, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,719 in Seattle, WA versus $3,619 in Walla Walla, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,662 in Seattle, WA versus $4,796 in Walla Walla, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 55% more expensive than in Walla Walla, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 176% above, Walla Walla, WA 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.31 $25.31

$20.30 $20.30

24.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$74.1 $74.1

36.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.93 $14.93

$10.19 $10.19

46.52%

Cappuccino

$6.58 $6.58

$5.03 $5.03

30.82%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.34 $2.34

30.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.83 $1.83

57.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 $8.04

$4.54 $4.54

77.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.09 $6.09

29.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.94 $0.94

25.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.33 $3.33

49.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$3.12 $3.12

94.55%

Eggs

$5.59 $5.59

$3.99 $3.99

40.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.27 $21.27

$16.08 $16.08

32.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.75 $18.75

$13.80 $13.80

35.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.07 $23.07

$16.42 $16.42

40.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.51 $4.51

28.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.74 $1.74

9.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.22 $2.22

138.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$3.62 $3.62

81.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.14 $2.14

61.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.27 $2.27

41.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.51 $1.51

84.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.88 $1.88

43.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 $14.20

$8.64 $8.64

64.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$12.24 $12.24

21.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$1.88 $1.88

121.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 $5.70

$4.87 $4.87

17.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$0.51 $0.51

476.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$20.15 $20.15

431.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.98 $1.98

32.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.27 $1.27

37.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.49 $30.49

$39.38 $39.38

-22.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.08 $1.08

32.41%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$30.1K $30.1K

19.91%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.61%

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

$302 $302

$223 $223

35.54%

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

$70.6 $70.6

$73.8 $73.8

-4.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$62.8 $62.8

35.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.0 $80.0

$43.63 $43.63

83.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.38 $35.38

Cinema Ticket

$17.72 $17.72

$11.20 $11.20

58.21%

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

$3,014 $3,014

$1,408 $1,408

114.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K $30.9K

$21.6K $21.6K

43.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.4 $82.4

$40.51 $40.51

103.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.0 $55.0

$35.09 $35.09

56.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$86.2 $86.2

46.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$84.4 $84.4

88.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 $2,465

$1,347 $1,347

83.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,957 $1,957

$1,178 $1,178

66.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,760 $4,760

$2,259 $2,259

110.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,568 $3,568

$2,038 $2,038

75.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,515 $7,515

$2,768 $2,768

171.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,964 $4,964

$2,678 $2,678

85.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,438 $6,438

$5,254 $5,254

22.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

6.06

3.14%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 17, 2026

Last update for Walla Walla, WA: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,465 in Seattle, WA and $1,347 in Walla Walla, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 23% 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 $74.0 in Walla Walla, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $381 per month, with Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Walla Walla, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% 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 $1,347 in Walla Walla, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Walla Walla, WA – a meal for two runs $74.0 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 $2,442 in Walla Walla, WA – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,442 in Walla Walla, WA versus $3,775 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Walla Walla, WA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Walla Walla, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Walla Walla, 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.

Expats usually find Walla Walla, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.