Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Yakima, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Yakima, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,188 in Yakima, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,224 in Yakima, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,260 in Yakima, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 65% more expensive than in Yakima, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Yakima, WA 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$15.52 $15.52

59.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$66.2 $66.2

83.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.37 $10.37

35.20%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.72 $4.72

17.80%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.99 $1.99

53.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.56 $2.56

-6.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.39 $4.39

80.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$5.08 $5.08

59.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.94 $0.94

46.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.83 $3.83

29.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.46 $3.46

54.62%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.10 $3.10

112.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$10.10 $10.10

146.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.67 $10.67

49.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$14.18 $14.18

42.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.21 $3.21

92.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.49 $1.49

85.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.20 $4.20

28.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.13 $3.13

108.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.00 $2.00

60.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.08 $2.08

80.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.06 $2.06

37.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.47 $1.47

78.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.26 $9.26

26.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$13.87 $13.87

11.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.88 $1.88

50.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.64 $4.64

-8.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.92 $4.92

-43.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.04 $3.04

-14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.91 $0.91

81.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$52.7 $52.7

-43.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.11 $1.11

2.70%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$34.9K $34.9K

-5.08%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.27%

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

$270 $270

$122 $122

121.83%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$50.7 $50.7

17.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$69.0 $69.0

7.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$70.8 $70.8

9.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$13.61 $13.61

15.94%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,709 $1,709

33.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$7,075 $7,075

321.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$51.3 $51.3

36.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$58.3 $58.3

-10.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$81.6 $81.6

43.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$108 $108

33.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$995 $995

134.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,089 $1,089

74.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,647 $1,647

188.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$1,751 $1,751

98.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,524 $2,524

205.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,514 $2,514

98.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$3,517 $3,517

88.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.56

-2.13%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Yakima, WA: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $995 in Yakima, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 89% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $66.0 in Yakima, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $340 per month, with Yakima, WA 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 Yakima, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yakima, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 89% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $995 in Yakima, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $1,709 in Yakima, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Yakima, WA – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,188 in Yakima, WA versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yakima, WA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Yakima, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Yakima, WA 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 Yakima, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.