Cost of Living Comparison Between State College, PA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between State College, PA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,380 in State College, PA versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in State College, PA versus $5,510 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,575 in State College, PA versus $7,481 in Seattle, WA.

Living in State College, PA costs roughly 33% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: State College, PA 77% above, Seattle, WA 163% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 $18.03

$25.25 $25.25

-28.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 $51.0

$120 $120

-57.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 $8.86

$13.79 $13.79

-35.75%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$5.61 $5.61

-19.07%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.00 $3.00

-13.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.50 $2.50

-18.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$7.85 $7.85

-37.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$7.92 $7.92

-11.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.36 $1.36

-31.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.86 $4.86

-28.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$5.31 $5.31

-61.96%

Eggs

$3.92 $3.92

$6.61 $6.61

-40.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$24.48 $24.48

-59.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 $8.58

$16.02 $16.02

-46.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$20.57 $20.57

-42.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$6.10 $6.10

-39.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.88 $2.88

-45.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$5.57 $5.57

-11.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$6.74 $6.74

-26.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.20 $3.20

-36.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.79 $3.79

-25.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.72 $2.72

-23.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.62 $2.62

-42.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 $13.96

$11.71 $11.71

19.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 $17.93

$15.81 $15.81

13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.85 $2.85

-37.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 $7.38

$4.38 $4.38

68.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.69 $2.69

-15.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.2 $84.2

$98.9 $98.9

-14.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.63 $2.63

99.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.65 $1.65

39.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.43 $45.43

$29.86 $29.86

52.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.14 $1.14

-15.79%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$32.6K $32.6K

-27.06%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

-9.54%

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

$161 $161

$264 $264

-39.18%

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

$39.79 $39.79

$60.6 $60.6

-34.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$76.1 $76.1

-20.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.91 $24.91

$78.0 $78.0

-68.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.01 $40.01

Cinema Ticket

$11.91 $11.91

$16.19 $16.19

-26.44%

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

$893 $893

$2,253 $2,253

-60.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$29.7K $29.7K

-4.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.28 $45.28

$70.5 $70.5

-35.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.18 $40.18

$51.8 $51.8

-22.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 $80.8

$119 $119

-32.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$143 $143

-19.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 $1,505

$2,381 $2,381

-36.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 $1,190

$1,887 $1,887

-36.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,837 $2,837

$4,752 $4,752

-40.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 $1,992

$3,585 $3,585

-44.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,623 $2,623

$7,850 $7,850

-66.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,181 $2,181

$5,213 $5,213

-58.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,372 $4,372

$6,446 $6,446

-32.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.42

1.71%

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

Last update for State College, PA: April 14, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,505 in State College, PA and $2,381 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 47% 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: $51 in State College, PA vs $120 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $543 per month, with State College, PA 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

State College, PA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

State College, PA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 47% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,505 in State College, PA versus $2,381 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in State College, PA – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $120 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,380 per month in State College, PA versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,380 in State College, PA versus $3,539 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in State College, PA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes State College, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, State College, PA 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, State College, PA and Seattle, WA 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 State College, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.