Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waunakee, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waunakee, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,631 in Waunakee, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,772 in Waunakee, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,913 in Waunakee, WI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than Waunakee, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Waunakee, WI 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.57 $15.57

62.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$76.2 $76.2

59.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.92 $10.92

29.21%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.41 $5.41

7.58%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.66 $2.66

12.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.35 $2.35

2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$5.83 $5.83

32.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.87 $6.87

14.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.92 $0.92

45.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.96 $3.96

23.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.18 $5.18

-0.77%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.95 $3.95

66.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$14.02 $14.02

75.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$13.29 $13.29

19.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$16.70 $16.70

20.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.47 $4.47

40.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.54 $1.54

85.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.42 $4.42

19.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.57 $4.57

39.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.44 $2.44

31.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.71 $2.71

41.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.03 $2.03

34.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.97 $1.97

30.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.94 $9.94

17.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.23 $15.23

3.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.29 $2.29

25.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.58 $3.58

22.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.97 $1.97

40.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.34 $3.34

-20.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.42 $1.42

19.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$25.23 $25.23

17.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.96 $0.96

18.75%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

32.01%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.56%

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

$268 $268

$184 $184

45.33%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$63.5 $63.5

-3.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$69.0 $69.0

10.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.77 $43.77

78.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$15.10 $15.10

4.77%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,598 $1,598

40.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$24.1K $24.1K

23.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$64.5 $64.5

9.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$48.29 $48.29

10.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$97.6 $97.6

20.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$130 $130

6.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,630 $1,630

41.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,357 $1,357

36.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,635 $2,635

79.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,207 $2,207

61.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,899 $2,899

168.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,509 $2,509

113.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Waunakee, WI: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,630 in Waunakee, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $76 in Waunakee, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $410 per month, with Waunakee, WI 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 Waunakee, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waunakee, WI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,946 in Waunakee, WI 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,630 in Waunakee, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $1,598 in Waunakee, WI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Waunakee, WI – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Waunakee, WI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Waunakee, WI 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Waunakee, WI 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 Waunakee, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.