Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waltham, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waltham, MA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 21.1% more expensive than Waltham, MA without rent, and 9.1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 30.6% more expensive than Waltham, MA without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$19.12 $19.12
31.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$100 $100
18.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.21 $11.21
23.46%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.41 $4.41
31.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.67 $2.67
10.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.15 $2.15
16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.02 $6.02
29.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.36 $7.36
6.52%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.32 $1.32
1.52%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.34 $3.34
49.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.04 $4.04
32.43%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.86 $4.86
42.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$16.41 $16.41
51.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$10.45 $10.45
50.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$20.45 $20.45
1.91%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.66 $5.66
6.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.19 $2.19
25.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$5.74 $5.74
-4.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$7.86 $7.86
-17.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$4.54 $4.54
-31.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.46 $2.46
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.82 $2.82
-1.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.48 $1.48
70.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.13 $11.13
4.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.91 $14.91
15.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.06 $2.06
42.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.98 $2.98
40.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.3 $2.3
21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$59.4 $59.4
69.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.54 $2.54
5.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.69 $1.69
-2.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$27.47 $27.47
9.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.85 $0.85
36.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$29.2K $29.2K
14.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.2K $25.2K
4.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$323 $323
-16.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$56.9 $56.9
8.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$79.3 $79.3
-5.20%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$43.64 $43.64
79.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.1 $15.1
5.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,504 $1,504
49.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$27.9K $27.9K
4.13%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$66.1 $66.1
5.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$32.59 $32.59
61.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$65.9 $65.9
81.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$84.4 $84.4
68.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,664 $2,664
-10.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,532 $2,532
-27.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,339 $4,339
8.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$5,091 $5,091
-31.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$2,634 $2,634
162.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,530 $2,530
106.51%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Waltham, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,663 $4,663
38.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.43
-0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waltham, MA: October 28, 2025

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