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: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,289 in Yakima, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,296 in Yakima, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,303 in Yakima, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 70% more expensive than in Yakima, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Yakima, WA 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$16.20 $16.20

56.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$63.7 $63.7

58.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.79 $10.79

37.16%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.75 $4.75

39.58%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.22 $2.22

38.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.55 $2.55

16.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.66 $3.66

116.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$4.27 $4.27

84.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.99 $0.99

23.23%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.09 $4.09

25.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.68 $3.68

67.39%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.17 $3.17

60.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.66 $11.66

82.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$8.89 $8.89

107.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$14.83 $14.83

55.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.55 $3.55

70.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.57 $1.57

19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.05 $4.05

28.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.49 $3.49

82.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.20 $2.20

71.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.16 $2.16

52.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.04 $2.04

40.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.66 $1.66

60.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$12.17 $12.17

14.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.10 $14.10

6.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.75 $1.75

138.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.98 $4.98

13.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.92 $4.92

-39.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.65 $2.65

-3.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.94 $0.94

75.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$30.53 $30.53

-3.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.21 $1.21

20.66%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.6K $36.6K

-1.65%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$27.5K $27.5K

-7.61%

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

$306 $306

$225 $225

36.34%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$56.0 $56.0

25.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$69.9 $69.9

25.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$51.4 $51.4

55.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.19 $15.19

17.51%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,704 $1,704

77.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$7,295 $7,295

326.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$61.3 $61.3

24.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$45.30 $45.30

18.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$80.2 $80.2

56.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$106 $106

52.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,028 $1,028

138.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,048 $1,048

88.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$1,683 $1,683

190.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,814 $1,814

99.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,499 $2,499

195.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,506 $2,506

99.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,527 $3,527

74.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.09

5.91%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Yakima, WA: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,028 in Yakima, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 75% 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 $64.0 in Yakima, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $349 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 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 75% 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 $1,028 in Yakima, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,704 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 $64.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,289 in Yakima, WA versus $3,886 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 70% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.