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: $2,672 in Stafford, VA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,054 in Stafford, VA versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,436 in Stafford, VA versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Stafford, VA costs roughly 26% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stafford, VA 99% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.24 $17.24

$24.80 $24.80

-30.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$118 $118

3.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$13.77 $13.77

-12.06%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.71 $5.71

-3.33%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$3.05 $3.05

-0.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.50 $2.50

-2.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$7.83 $7.83

-9.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.11 $10.11

$7.88 $7.88

28.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.35 $1.35

-11.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$5.06 $5.06

-40.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.00 $7.00

$5.39 $5.39

29.87%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$6.85 $6.85

-36.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$25.07 $25.07

-30.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$15.85 $15.85

-29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.37 $19.37

$20.59 $20.59

-5.93%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$6.14 $6.14

-1.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.82 $2.82

-26.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.51 $5.51

-5.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$6.74 $6.74

-6.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.15 $3.15

11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.82 $3.82

1.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.69 $2.69

-4.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.64 $2.64

-6.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.65 $11.65

8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.02 $16.02

$15.69 $15.69

2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.93 $2.93

-4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$4.24 $4.24

9.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.82 $2.82

-29.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.60 $2.60

55.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.72 $1.72

-11.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.69 $29.69

$30.22 $30.22

-1.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.19 $1.19

-24.37%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$32.7K $32.7K

-7.31%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.75%

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

$137 $137

$263 $263

-47.67%

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

$60.6 $60.6

$60.9 $60.9

-0.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 $68.6

$75.9 $75.9

-9.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.61 $43.61

$79.6 $79.6

-45.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.75 $16.75

$16.27 $16.27

2.95%

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

$2,725 $2,725

$2,281 $2,281

19.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

38.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.0 $81.0

$68.6 $68.6

18.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

$52.0 $52.0

-2.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$116 $116

-12.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$143 $143

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$2,336 $2,336

-30.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 $1,330

$1,863 $1,863

-28.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,593 $2,593

$4,628 $4,628

-43.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$3,477 $3,477

-36.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,242 $3,242

$5,232 $5,232

-38.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,579 $7,579

$6,617 $6,617

14.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

-6.54%

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

Last update for Stafford, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Stafford, VA and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stafford, VA pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $122 in Stafford, VA vs $118 in Seattle, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $463 vs $547, 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Stafford, VA pays 15% more on average, 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: $1,619 in Stafford, VA versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,725 in Stafford, VA versus $2,281 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 $122 versus $118 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 35% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.