Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Wasilla, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Wasilla, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,737 in Wasilla, AK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,730 in Wasilla, AK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,723 in Wasilla, AK.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 31% more expensive than Wasilla, AK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Wasilla, AK 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$24.75 $24.75

0.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$101 $101

16.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.78 $11.78

16.89%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.62 $4.62

23.59%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.16 $2.16

41.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.03 $2.03

23.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.08 $6.08

28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.55 $7.55

4.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.07 $1.07

26.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.99 $3.99

26.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.22 $2.22

142.79%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.44 $3.44

99.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.58 $12.58

99.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.82 $10.82

46.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$17.33 $17.33

18.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.73 $7.73

-20.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.00 $2.00

41.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.04 $4.04

36.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.75 $3.75

79.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.37 $2.37

32.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.93 $2.93

30.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.81 $2.81

-4.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.23 $2.23

18.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.45 $11.45

1.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.39 $16.39

-4.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.72 $1.72

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.86 $3.86

9.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.03 $2.03

38.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$89.9 $89.9

11.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.78 $2.78

-6.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.74 $1.74

-1.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$38.29 $38.29

-21.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.99 $0.99

20.20%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

37.44%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.68%

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

$263 $263

$177 $177

48.66%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$40.21 $40.21

51.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$123 $123

-38.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.74 $43.74

81.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$11.91 $11.91

36.61%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$966 $966

136.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$10.3K $10.3K

185.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$49.59 $49.59

38.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$45.77 $45.77

13.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$76.6 $76.6

51.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$92.5 $92.5

55.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,600 $1,600

46.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,368 $1,368

36.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,811 $1,811

155.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,677 $1,677

107.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.46

-0.62%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Wasilla, AK: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,600 in Wasilla, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in Wasilla, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $403 per month, with Wasilla, AK 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 Wasilla, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wasilla, AK is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $4,106 in Wasilla, AK to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,600 in Wasilla, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Wasilla, AK – a meal for two runs $101 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,737 in Wasilla, AK – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Wasilla, AK 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 Wasilla, AK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.