Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Williston, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Williston, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,082 in Williston, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,596 in Williston, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $5,109 in Williston, ND.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 74% more expensive than in Williston, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Williston, ND 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$18.62 $18.62

34.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$74.8 $74.8

58.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.84 $10.84

26.94%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.10 $5.10

14.71%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.53 $2.53

20.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.02 $2.02

18.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.90 $5.90

34.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.96 $6.96

12.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.94 $0.94

47.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.07 $2.07

134.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.24 $4.24

22.17%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$4.22 $4.22

58.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$30.55 $30.55

-17.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.48 $12.48

27.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$13.98 $13.98

44.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.90 $4.90

26.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.56 $1.56

84.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.27 $4.27

28.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.74 $4.74

34.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.77 $2.77

11.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.90 $2.90

31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.11 $2.11

32.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.11 $2.11

23.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$9.36 $9.36

21.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.18 $15.18

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.84 $1.84

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.30 $3.30

28.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.44 $3.44

-22.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.66 $1.66

2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.51 $29.51

-0.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.03 $1.03

10.68%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.7K $29.7K

12.12%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.79%

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

$261 $261

$185 $185

41.00%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$53.0 $53.0

13.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$75.5 $75.5

0.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$43.45 $43.45

81.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.59 $13.59

16.41%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,302 $1,302

69.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.3K $23.3K

27.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$51.9 $51.9

34.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.89 $39.89

30.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.1 $86.1

35.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$112 $112

24.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$958 $958

142.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$850 $850

120.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,606 $2,606

81.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,227 $2,227

60.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,117 $2,117

261.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,133 $2,133

136.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$5,794 $5,794

12.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Williston, ND: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $958 in Williston, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 12% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Williston, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $429 per month, with Williston, ND 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 Williston, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williston, ND is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $958 in Williston, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,210 in Seattle, WA versus $1,302 in Williston, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Williston, ND – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,082 in Williston, ND versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Williston, ND but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Williston, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Williston, ND 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 Williston, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.