Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Palm Beach, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and West Palm Beach, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,118 in West Palm Beach, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,559 in West Palm Beach, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,999 in West Palm Beach, FL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 24% more expensive than in West Palm Beach, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, West Palm Beach, FL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$21.35 $21.35

17.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$78.9 $78.9

26.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.84 $11.84

27.20%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.15 $5.15

23.69%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.51 $2.51

22.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.86 $1.86

61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.07 $6.07

28.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.94 $7.94

3.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.06 $1.06

14.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.02 $3.02

65.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.22 $3.22

98.45%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.08 $4.08

25.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.59 $12.59

67.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.09 $11.09

65.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$18.69 $18.69

28.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.88 $4.88

20.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.77 $1.77

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.96 $2.96

78.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.69 $4.69

37.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.19 $3.19

15.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.26 $3.26

3.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.57 $2.57

8.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.45 $2.45

5.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$9.09 $9.09

53.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$13.21 $13.21

13.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.77 $1.77

141.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.69 $3.69

58.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.01 $2.01

45.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$70.3 $70.3

54.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.95 $2.95

-12.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.88 $1.88

-8.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$35.36 $35.36

-14.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.99 $0.99

41.41%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.6K $37.6K

-4.02%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

2.94%

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

$299 $299

$195 $195

53.61%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$64.6 $64.6

7.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$75.0 $75.0

16.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$48.92 $48.92

63.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$25.55 $25.55

36.71%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$9.98 $9.98

77.35%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,474 $1,474

104.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$21.6K $21.6K

43.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$63.6 $63.6

21.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$40.66 $40.66

35.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$91.7 $91.7

39.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$108 $108

47.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,216 $2,216

12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,779 $1,779

8.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,970 $3,970

19.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$3,079 $3,079

18.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$4,315 $4,315

75.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$3,674 $3,674

39.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,104 $4,104

51.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.06

6.44%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for West Palm Beach, FL: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,216 in West Palm Beach, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 52% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in West Palm Beach, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $388 per month, with West Palm Beach, FL 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 Palm Beach, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Palm Beach, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 52% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $2,216 in West Palm Beach, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in West Palm Beach, FL – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,118 in West Palm Beach, FL – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, West Palm Beach, FL 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 West Palm Beach, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.