Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Washington, DC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Washington, DC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $3,790 in Washington, DC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $6,006 in Washington, DC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $8,221 in Washington, DC.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 7% less than in Washington, DC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Washington, DC 184% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$27.85 $27.85

-8.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

-0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$12.05 $12.05

14.61%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.96 $5.96

-1.68%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$3.10 $3.10

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.82 $2.82

-14.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$7.91 $7.91

-0.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$9.87 $9.87

-16.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.18 $1.18

18.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.52 $4.52

8.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$6.91 $6.91

-25.04%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.36 $4.36

57.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$17.94 $17.94

38.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.30 $15.30

2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$19.51 $19.51

3.13%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$6.20 $6.20

-3.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.10 $2.10

35.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.35 $5.35

0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$6.34 $6.34

5.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.41 $3.41

-7.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.88 $3.88

-4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.67 $2.67

4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.47 $2.47

7.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$12.38 $12.38

-8.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$16.28 $16.28

-4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.79 $2.79

2.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.70 $4.70

-10.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.71 $2.71

2.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

$76.2 $76.2

27.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.02 $4.02

-35.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.53 $2.53

-33.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$29.56 $29.56

0.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.90 $0.90

26.67%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

12.24%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.27%

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

$263 $263

$212 $212

24.11%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$60.6 $60.6

0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$67.1 $67.1

11.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$111 $111

-28.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

$39.11 $39.11

4.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$16.92 $16.92

-6.56%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$2,691 $2,691

-14.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$40.6K $40.6K

-27.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$80.0 $80.0

-14.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$51.2 $51.2

1.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$104 $104

12.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$144 $144

-3.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$2,548 $2,548

-6.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$2,118 $2,118

-11.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$5,991 $5,991

-20.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$4,255 $4,255

-16.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$8,493 $8,493

-5.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$3,240 $3,240

60.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$7,038 $7,038

-5.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.48

-0.93%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Washington, DC: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $2,548 in Washington, DC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Washington, DC pays 6% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $121 in Washington, DC. Groceries flip the comparison at $540 vs $502, with Washington, DC cheaper for home cooking.

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 Washington, DC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Washington, DC earns 6% 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: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $2,548 in Washington, DC. 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 $121 versus $121 in Washington, DC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,790 in Washington, DC – a 7% 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 Washington, DC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Washington, DC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.