Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Yuma, AZ: $2,122 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA, United States
Yuma, AZ, United States
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,785
/mo nomad
Yuma, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,122
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Yuma, AZ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Yuma, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,785 in Seattle, WA versus $2,122 in Yuma, AZ.

  • Seattle, WA $3,785
  • Yuma, AZ $2,122

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,688 in Seattle, WA versus $3,110 in Yuma, AZ.

  • Seattle, WA $5,688
  • Yuma, AZ $3,110

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,592 in Seattle, WA versus $4,098 in Yuma, AZ.

  • Seattle, WA $7,592
  • Yuma, AZ $4,098

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 78% more expensive than in Yuma, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 178% above, Yuma, AZ 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.30 $25.30
$13.25 $13.25
90.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$44.14 $44.14
128.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.76 $14.76
$9.24 $9.24
59.74%
Cappuccino
$6.50 $6.50
$5.61 $5.61
15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.06 $3.06
4.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.44 $2.44
28.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 $7.97
$5.55 $5.55
43.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$5.64 $5.64
44.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.79 $0.79
48.10%
White Bread (500g)
$5.30 $5.30
$3.85 $3.85
37.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.40 $6.40
$3.32 $3.32
92.77%
Eggs
$5.06 $5.06
$3.72 $3.72
36.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.71 $18.71
$9.21 $9.21
103.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.72 $18.72
$9.93 $9.93
88.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.88 $22.88
$14.94 $14.94
53.15%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$5.45 $5.45
11.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.81 $1.81
7.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.51 $5.51
$4.20 $4.20
31.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$2.74 $2.74
137.96%
Potato (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.33 $3.33
4.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.13 $3.13
5.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.42 $1.42
97.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.60 $1.60
61.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.49 $12.49
$11.01 $11.01
13.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 $14.87
$14.04 $14.04
5.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.71 $1.71
145.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80 $5.80
$3.01 $3.01
92.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.94 $1.94
57.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 $106
$47.24 $47.24
124.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.77 $2.77
-6.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.40 $1.40
17.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.12 $30.12
$32.85 $32.85
-8.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.10 $1.10
28.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K $36.8K
$24.1K $24.1K
53.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$24.9K $24.9K
6.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 $308
$221 $221
38.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$53.4 $53.4
29.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.1 $86.1
$67.3 $67.3
27.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.5 $76.5
$33.62 $33.62
127.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.50 $35.50
$14.95 $14.95
137.46%
Cinema Ticket
$18.02 $18.02
$10.87 $10.87
65.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,746 $2,746
$999 $999
174.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.6K $30.6K
$23.4K $23.4K
30.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2 $79.2
$53.4 $53.4
48.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 $54.3
$46.76 $46.76
16.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$71.8 $71.8
76.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 $159
$71.5 $71.5
122.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,508 $2,508
$1,006 $1,006
149.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,938 $1,938
$939 $939
106.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,117 $5,117
$1,745 $1,745
193.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,542 $3,542
$1,655 $1,655
114.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,374 $7,374
$2,441 $2,441
202.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,002 $5,002
$2,449 $2,449
104.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Yuma, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,470 $6,470
$3,678 $3,678
75.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
6.63
3.92%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Yuma, AZ: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$1.9K
Yuma, AZ
$939 51.6% $999
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$547
Yuma, AZ
$349 36.2% $198
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$463
Yuma, AZ
$342 26.1% $121
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$406
Yuma, AZ
$262 35.5% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$189
Yuma, AZ
$110 41.9% $79
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$129
Yuma, AZ
$65 49.8% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$112
Yuma, AZ
$55 50.8% $57

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,508 in Seattle, WA and $1,006 in Yuma, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 76% 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 $44 in Yuma, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $349 per month, with Yuma, AZ cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 Yuma, AZ
🕒 Local time
10:12 10:12 AM
10:12 10:12 AM
Same time as Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
93,064
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Yuma, AZ 1,780 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Yuma, AZ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Yuma, AZ cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Yuma, AZ is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Seattle, WA or Yuma, AZ?
Average pay runs 76% 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.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and Yuma, AZ?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,006 in Yuma, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Seattle, WA or in Yuma, AZ?
Dining out is cheaper in Yuma, AZ – a meal for two runs $44 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Seattle, WA and in Yuma, AZ?
All in, you’ll spend $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,122 in Yuma, AZ – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Seattle, WA or in Yuma, AZ?
At $2,122 in Yuma, AZ versus $3,785 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.
Is it better to live in Seattle, WA or in Yuma, AZ?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Yuma, AZ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Seattle, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?