Cost of Living Comparison Between Stafford, VA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Stafford, VA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,647 in Stafford, VA versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,146 in Stafford, VA versus $5,699 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,644 in Stafford, VA versus $7,513 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Stafford, VA costs roughly 32% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stafford, VA 92% above, Seattle, WA 182% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.19 $17.19

$25.37 $25.37

-32.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$101 $101

19.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$14.80 $14.80

-17.97%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$6.63 $6.63

-16.74%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$3.08 $3.08

6.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.96 $2.96

-17.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$7.94 $7.94

-10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.88 $7.88

24.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.22 $1.22

3.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$5.14 $5.14

-40.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$6.16 $6.16

12.18%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.08 $5.08

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 $16.91

$21.31 $21.31

-20.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.19 $11.19

$18.42 $18.42

-39.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.02 $19.02

$23.04 $23.04

-17.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.84 $6.84

$6.04 $6.04

13.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.88 $1.88

27.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$5.20 $5.20

-1.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.37 $6.37

-7.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.78 $3.78

-25.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.30 $3.30

17.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.87 $2.87

-11.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.66 $2.66

-0.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.78 $13.78

$13.91 $13.91

-0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 $15.76

$15.05 $15.05

4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.17 $4.17

-19.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.64 $5.64

2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.97 $2.97

-24.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.57 $2.57

59.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.65 $1.65

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.97 $24.97

$29.49 $29.49

-15.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.46 $1.46

-30.14%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.0K $36.0K

-1.06%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.47%

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

$139 $139

$306 $306

-54.64%

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

$80.0 $80.0

$70.2 $70.2

13.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$87.4 $87.4

-13.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.67 $42.67

$79.9 $79.9

-46.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$18.18 $18.18

$17.85 $17.85

1.85%

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

$1,435 $1,435

$3,018 $3,018

-52.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.0K $41.0K

$31.1K $31.1K

31.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.6 $72.6

$76.6 $76.6

-5.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 $44.79

$53.8 $53.8

-16.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$126 $126

-17.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$162 $162

-22.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$2,456 $2,456

-35.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 $1,299

$1,981 $1,981

-34.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,602 $2,602

$4,881 $4,881

-46.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$3,625 $3,625

-35.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 $2,866

$7,376 $7,376

-61.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,424 $2,424

$5,007 $5,007

-51.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,543 $7,543

$6,165 $6,165

22.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

-6.98%

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

Last update for Stafford, VA: September 5, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,597 in Stafford, VA and $2,456 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stafford, VA pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $121 in Stafford, VA vs $101 in Seattle, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $471 vs $551, with Stafford, VA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Stafford, VA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stafford, VA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Stafford, VA, 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: $1,597 in Stafford, VA versus $2,456 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,435 in Stafford, VA versus $3,018 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Stafford, VA – a meal for two runs $121 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 $2,500. Stafford, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Stafford, VA 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 Stafford, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.