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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,524 in Yelm, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $3,728 in Yelm, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $4,932 in Yelm, WA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 52% more expensive than in Yelm, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Yelm, WA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$22.94 $22.94

7.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$67.4 $67.4

47.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.59 $12.59

19.86%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.98 $5.98

10.70%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.94 $2.94

6.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.68 $1.68

77.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.17 $7.17

13.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.04 $7.04

11.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.10 $1.10

6.36%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.40 $4.40

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.87 $2.87

123.00%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.06 $5.06

-2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$15.08 $15.08

42.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$10.49 $10.49

77.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.14 $15.14

52.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.34 $5.34

8.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.61 $1.61

16.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.09 $4.09

31.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.49 $4.49

40.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.40 $2.40

58.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.51 $2.51

29.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.24 $2.24

28.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.03 $2.03

33.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.29 $12.29

15.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$14.93 $14.93

0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.06 $2.06

111.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.32 $2.32

147.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.03 $2.03

50.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.86 $4.86

-47.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.66 $2.66

-37.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$52.1 $52.1

-42.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.30 $1.30

6.15%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$36.3K $36.3K

0.49%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

-1.68%

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

$296 $296

$157 $157

88.52%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$53.4 $53.4

33.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$64.8 $64.8

35.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.58 $41.58

95.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$12.21 $12.21

50.12%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,424 $1,424

115.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$49.7K $49.7K

-38.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$44.53 $44.53

72.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$37.08 $37.08

45.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$89.8 $89.8

42.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$102 $102

61.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,591 $1,591

51.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,300 $1,300

48.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,497 $2,497

90.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,103 $2,103

70.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,764 $2,764

167.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,379 $2,379

112.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$8,893 $8,893

-28.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.03

6.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Yelm, WA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,591 in Yelm, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yelm, WA pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $67.0 in Yelm, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $395 per month, with Yelm, 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 Yelm, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yelm, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Yelm, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,591 in Yelm, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,067 in Seattle, WA versus $1,424 in Yelm, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Yelm, WA – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $99.0 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. Yelm, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Yelm, 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Yelm, WA 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 Yelm, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.