Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and York, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and York, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,791 in York, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $4,022 in York, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,253 in York, ME.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than in York, ME, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, York, ME 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$17.78 $17.78

42.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$94.9 $94.9

6.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.76 $13.76

7.56%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.40 $5.40

22.78%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.81 $2.81

9.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.81 $2.81

5.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.06 $5.06

56.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.83 $7.83

0.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.05 $1.05

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.74 $3.74

37.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.41 $5.41

13.86%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.91 $4.91

3.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.31 $11.31

88.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$14.08 $14.08

30.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$11.16 $11.16

106.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.49 $4.49

34.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.75 $1.75

7.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.02 $4.02

29.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.45 $5.45

16.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.85 $2.85

32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.99 $3.99

-17.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.46 $2.46

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.96 $2.96

-10.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$8.30 $8.30

67.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.71 $13.71

9.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.14 $2.14

94.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.27 $4.27

32.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.08 $2.08

42.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.09 $3.09

-16.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.93 $1.93

-14.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$27.57 $27.57

6.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.02 $1.02

43.14%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$19.3K $19.3K

86.95%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$16.0K $16.0K

58.56%

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

$306 $306

$313 $313

-2.14%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$104 $104

-32.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$86.2 $86.2

1.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$36.67 $36.67

117.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.01 $15.01

18.92%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,835 $1,835

64.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$30.0K $30.0K

3.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$56.3 $56.3

36.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$38.79 $38.79

38.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$79.9 $79.9

57.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$99.9 $99.9

62.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,515 $1,515

62.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,259 $1,259

57.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,505 $2,505

94.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,133 $2,133

69.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,597 $2,597

184.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,028 $2,028

146.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.04

6.79%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for York, ME: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,515 in York, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $95.0 in York, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $412 per month, with York, ME 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 York, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

York, ME is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,829 in Seattle, WA and $4,186 in York, ME 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,515 in York, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,835 in York, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in York, ME – a meal for two runs $95.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. York, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, York, ME 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 York, ME 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 York, ME gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.