Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Williamsburg, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Williamsburg, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,802 in Williamsburg, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $4,210 in Williamsburg, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,618 in Williamsburg, VA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Williamsburg, VA 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$18.68 $18.68

35.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.0 $75.0

34.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.93 $12.93

14.46%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.63 $5.63

17.76%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.70 $2.70

14.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.19 $2.19

35.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.02 $5.02

58.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.60 $7.60

3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.05 $1.05

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.89 $3.89

32.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.80 $3.80

62.11%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.45 $3.45

47.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.00 $13.00

63.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$8.12 $8.12

126.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$14.76 $14.76

56.10%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.59 $5.59

8.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.34 $1.34

40.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.77 $4.77

9.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.36 $3.36

89.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$5.82 $5.82

-35.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.59 $1.59

80.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.77 $1.77

50.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$6.33 $6.33

119.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$10.30 $10.30

46.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.23 $2.23

87.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.81 $3.81

48.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.48 $1.48

100.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$45.34 $45.34

137.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.95 $2.95

-12.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.46 $1.46

13.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$22.45 $22.45

31.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.81 $0.81

80.25%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

-0.04%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.77%

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

$306 $306

$192 $192

59.26%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$48.45 $48.45

44.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$61.6 $61.6

41.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$93.9 $93.9

-14.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$25.32 $25.32

37.20%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$14.79 $14.79

20.69%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,894 $1,894

59.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$24.2K $24.2K

28.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$36.50 $36.50

109.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.65 $34.65

55.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$87.6 $87.6

43.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$151 $151

7.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$2,259 $2,259

8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,493 $1,493

32.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,733 $2,733

78.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,630 $2,630

37.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,119 $2,119

248.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$1,714 $1,714

192.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$4,396 $4,396

40.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.34

1.74%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Williamsburg, VA: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $2,259 in Williamsburg, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 40% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Williamsburg, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $365 per month, with Williamsburg, VA 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 Williamsburg, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williamsburg, VA 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.

Average pay runs 40% 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $2,259 in Williamsburg, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Williamsburg, VA – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,802 in Williamsburg, VA – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Williamsburg, VA 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 Williamsburg, VA 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.