Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Lafayette, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Lafayette, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,388 in West Lafayette, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,492 in West Lafayette, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $4,596 in West Lafayette, IN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 51% more expensive than West Lafayette, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, West Lafayette, IN 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$13.01 $13.01

90.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$70.3 $70.3

67.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$6.38 $6.38

115.83%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.43 $4.43

28.89%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.83 $1.83

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.44 $2.44

2.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.57 $5.57

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$3.53 $3.53

123.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.79 $0.79

70.89%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.97 $1.97

156.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.07 $2.07

160.39%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.90 $3.90

75.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$14.34 $14.34

74.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$14.78 $14.78

7.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.38 $19.38

6.24%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.05 $4.05

51.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.17 $1.17

141.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.24 $2.24

145.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.80 $2.80

140.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.47 $2.47

27.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.81 $2.81

35.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.52 $2.52

6.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.59 $2.59

1.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$14.71 $14.71

-20.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.19 $15.19

3.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.78 $1.78

64.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.67 $3.67

15.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.02 $1.02

176.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$28.23 $28.23

254.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.23 $3.23

-19.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.97 $0.97

77.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$24.69 $24.69

22.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.82 $0.82

45.12%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

3.61%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.73%

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

$263 $263

$132 $132

98.33%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$52.8 $52.8

15.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$58.5 $58.5

29.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$40.78 $40.78

95.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$12.40 $12.40

221.69%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$7.80 $7.80

108.59%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,017 $1,017

124.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$38.5K $38.5K

-23.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$44.33 $44.33

54.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$51.7 $51.7

0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$94.7 $94.7

22.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$148 $148

-3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,327 $1,327

76.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,271 $1,271

46.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,882 $1,882

145.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,008 $2,008

73.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,805 $1,805

330.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,783 $1,783

193.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$8,680 $8,680

-23.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.53

-1.68%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,327 in West Lafayette, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Lafayette, IN pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $70.0 in West Lafayette, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $378 per month, with West Lafayette, IN 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 West Lafayette, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Lafayette, IN is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, West Lafayette, IN earns 31% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,327 in West Lafayette, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in West Lafayette, IN – a meal for two runs $70.0 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 $2,388 in West Lafayette, IN – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,388 in West Lafayette, IN versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in West Lafayette, IN but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes West Lafayette, IN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, West Lafayette, IN 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 West Lafayette, IN 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 West Lafayette, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.