Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Yuma, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Yuma, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,143 in Yuma, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,172 in Yuma, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,202 in Yuma, AZ.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 81% more expensive than in Yuma, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Yuma, AZ 55% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$12.81 $12.81

98.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$43.25 $43.25

133.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.22 $9.22

60.52%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.43 $5.43

22.10%

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

$3.08 $3.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.43 $2.43

21.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$5.58 $5.58

42.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.51 $5.51

43.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.88 $0.88

38.64%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.22 $4.22

21.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.29 $3.29

87.23%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$4.50 $4.50

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$9.64 $9.64

121.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$9.55 $9.55

92.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$15.42 $15.42

49.42%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.73 $5.73

5.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.69 $1.69

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.28 $4.28

21.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$2.71 $2.71

135.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.22 $3.22

17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.98 $2.98

10.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.49 $1.49

92.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.58 $1.58

68.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.77 $10.77

29.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.35 $14.35

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.77 $1.77

135.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.25 $3.25

73.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.04 $2.04

45.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

$46.70 $46.70

130.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.71 $2.71

-5.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.39 $1.39

18.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$33.58 $33.58

-12.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.03 $1.03

41.75%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

53.81%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

1.94%

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

$306 $306

$222 $222

37.62%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$54.1 $54.1

29.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$72.0 $72.0

21.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$33.39 $33.39

139.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

$14.79 $14.79

134.89%

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$10.72 $10.72

66.51%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,013 $1,013

197.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$23.2K $23.2K

34.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$53.5 $53.5

43.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$44.05 $44.05

22.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$72.8 $72.8

72.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$71.1 $71.1

128.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$997 $997

146.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$915 $915

116.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$1,698 $1,698

187.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,696 $1,696

113.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,393 $2,393

208.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,342 $2,342

113.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,654 $3,654

68.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.21

3.86%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Yuma, AZ: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $997 in Yuma, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 69% 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 $43.00 in Yuma, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $359 per month, with Yuma, AZ 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 Yuma, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yuma, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 69% 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 $997 in Yuma, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Yuma, AZ – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,143 in Yuma, AZ – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,143 in Yuma, AZ versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Yuma, AZ but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Yuma, AZ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Yuma, AZ 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 Yuma, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.