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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $3,968 in Waltham, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $6,146 in Waltham, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $8,324 in Waltham, MA.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 10% less than in Waltham, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Waltham, MA 197% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$19.37 $19.37

27.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$98.7 $98.7

20.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.35 $11.35

24.67%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.53 $4.53

26.05%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.73 $2.73

7.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.17 $2.17

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.97 $5.97

32.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.69 $7.69

4.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.28 $1.28

6.25%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.40 $3.40

49.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.97 $3.97

32.24%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.75 $4.75

45.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$16.26 $16.26

53.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.46 $10.46

50.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$20.35 $20.35

1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.69 $5.69

8.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.24 $2.24

24.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.65 $5.65

-2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$7.77 $7.77

-17.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.32 $4.32

-26.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.43 $2.43

60.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.84 $2.84

-4.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.52 $1.52

66.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.94 $10.94

3.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.23 $15.23

2.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.17 $2.17

32.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.95 $2.95

44.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.23 $2.23

21.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$60.1 $60.1

64.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.66 $2.66

-3.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.75 $1.75

-6.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$27.77 $27.77

6.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$29.6K $29.6K

10.79%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

7.05%

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

$264 $264

$321 $321

-17.73%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$57.2 $57.2

7.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$77.2 $77.2

-2.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.50 $43.50

79.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.78 $14.78

9.00%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,504 $1,504

47.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

5.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$67.1 $67.1

3.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$31.94 $31.94

68.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$66.9 $66.9

78.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$84.8 $84.8

67.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,703 $2,703

-12.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$2,536 $2,536

-27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$4,331 $4,331

8.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$5,072 $5,072

-29.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,127 $5,127

26.25%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Waltham, MA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,703 in Waltham, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $99.0 in Waltham, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $442 per month, with Waltham, MA 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 Waltham, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Waltham, MA differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $3,968 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 26% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $2,703 in Waltham, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $119 versus $99.0 in Waltham, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,968 in Waltham, MA – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Seattle, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Waltham, MA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Waltham, MA 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 Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Waltham, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.