Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Winona, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Winona, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,540 in Winona, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,625 in Winona, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,710 in Winona, MN.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 44% more expensive than Winona, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Winona, MN 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$14.74 $14.74

71.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$58.6 $58.6

106.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.63 $10.63

32.74%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.59 $5.59

4.11%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$1.71 $1.71

74.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.99 $0.99

142.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$3.99 $3.99

93.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.03 $6.03

30.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.82 $0.82

63.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.36 $1.36

261.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.66 $4.66

10.30%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$1.77 $1.77

271.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$14.30 $14.30

72.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$10.76 $10.76

47.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$16.12 $16.12

24.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.59 $4.59

36.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$0.68 $0.68

320.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.28 $5.28

0.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.74 $4.74

34.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.60 $2.60

23.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.33 $2.33

64.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.96 $1.96

39.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.23 $2.23

15.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.30 $9.30

25.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.81 $15.81

-0.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.26 $2.26

27.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.37 $3.37

30.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.03 $2.03

35.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.52 $3.52

-24.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.13 $2.13

-20.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$44.81 $44.81

-33.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.85 $0.85

34.12%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$40.0K $40.0K

-17.71%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K $27.0K

-3.85%

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

$268 $268

$199 $199

34.42%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$30.20 $30.20

101.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$51.6 $51.6

47.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.28 $43.28

80.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$10.13 $10.13

56.17%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$959 $959

134.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$62.7 $62.7

12.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$63.6 $63.6

-16.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$127 $127

-7.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$151 $151

-7.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,600 $1,600

44.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,339 $1,339

38.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,599 $2,599

82.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,188 $2,188

62.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$1,671 $1,671

365.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$1,689 $1,689

216.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Winona, MN: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,600 in Winona, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $59 in Winona, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $361 per month, with Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Winona, MN is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,491 in Seattle, WA and $3,811 in Winona, MN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,600 in Winona, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,252 in Seattle, WA versus $959 in Winona, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Winona, MN – a meal for two runs $59.0 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 $2,500. Winona, MN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.