Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Wilkes-Barre, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Wilkes-Barre, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,889 in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $4,152 in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,415 in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than Wilkes-Barre, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Wilkes-Barre, PA 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$29.43 $29.43

-13.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$49.70 $49.70

143.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.58 $10.58

33.36%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$3.76 $3.76

54.79%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$0.99 $0.99

201.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.67 $2.67

-10.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$7.88 $7.88

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$12.14 $12.14

-35.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.62 $1.62

-17.28%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.08 $5.08

-3.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$8.13 $8.13

-36.78%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$6.91 $6.91

-4.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$17.02 $17.02

44.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$16.22 $16.22

-2.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$20.45 $20.45

-1.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$7.40 $7.40

-15.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.53 $2.53

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.94 $5.94

-10.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.22 $6.22

2.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.83 $3.83

-16.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.99 $3.99

-4.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.09 $3.09

-11.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.49 $2.49

3.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$19.07 $19.07

-38.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.78 $14.78

6.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.98 $2.98

-3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.70 $3.70

18.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.05 $2.05

34.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.05 $5.05

-47.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.38 $1.38

23.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$41.93 $41.93

-29.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.97 $0.97

17.53%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$34.8K $34.8K

-5.35%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$28.0K $28.0K

-7.20%

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

$268 $268

$181 $181

47.96%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$59.9 $59.9

1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$62.2 $62.2

22.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.02 $43.02

81.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$20.17 $20.17

-21.57%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$3,150 $3,150

-28.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

28.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$68.2 $68.2

3.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$47.18 $47.18

12.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$113 $113

3.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$174 $174

-20.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,603 $1,603

44.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,372 $1,372

34.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,650 $2,650

78.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,209 $2,209

60.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,375 $4,375

50.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.44

-0.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Wilkes-Barre, PA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,603 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 50% 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 $50 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $539 vs $541, with Seattle, WA 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wilkes-Barre, PA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 50% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,603 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $3,150 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Wilkes-Barre, PA – a meal for two runs $50.0 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. Wilkes-Barre, PA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.