Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,699 in Sterling versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,188 in Sterling versus $5,820 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,677 in Sterling versus $7,759 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Sterling costs roughly 30% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sterling 97% above, Seattle, WA 184% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.71 $13.71

$25.01 $25.01

-45.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$99.9 $99.9

-25.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 $10.65

$15.06 $15.06

-29.28%

Cappuccino

$5.93 $5.93

$6.37 $6.37

-6.91%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.08 $3.08

-11.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.00 $3.00

-14.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.65 $5.65

$7.80 $7.80

-27.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$8.21 $8.21

-2.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.21 $1.21

-11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.99 $4.99

-15.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$6.39 $6.39

-20.34%

Eggs

$5.61 $5.61

$5.12 $5.12

9.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 $16.30

$21.05 $21.05

-22.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$18.38 $18.38

-19.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.15 $19.15

$24.03 $24.03

-20.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$5.89 $5.89

-19.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.88 $1.88

-9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.29 $5.29

14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$6.47 $6.47

-18.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.68 $3.68

-16.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.36 $3.36

-29.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.79 $2.79

-24.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.58 $2.58

5.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$13.92 $13.92

-26.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.06 $14.06

$14.99 $14.99

-6.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$4.28 $4.28

-58.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.86 $5.86

-11.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.92 $2.92

74.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.57 $2.57

15.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.76 $22.76

$30.40 $30.40

-25.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.40 $1.40

-27.86%

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

$23.0K $23.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-36.34%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

-10.23%

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

$98.2 $98.2

$299 $299

-67.19%

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

$49.64 $49.64

$69.4 $69.4

-28.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$87.7 $87.7

-16.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.63 $28.63

$80.2 $80.2

-64.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.19 $17.19

$17.70 $17.70

-2.88%

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

$1,894 $1,894

$3,020 $3,020

-37.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.8K $31.8K

$31.0K $31.0K

2.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.60 $47.60

$77.3 $77.3

-38.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.60 $44.60

$55.1 $55.1

-19.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$128 $128

-33.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.6 $89.6

$159 $159

-43.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$2,488 $2,488

-49.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,482 $1,482

$1,930 $1,930

-23.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,000 $2,000

$4,755 $4,755

-57.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,869 $2,869

$3,639 $3,639

-21.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,280 $3,280

$7,583 $7,583

-56.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,409 $2,409

$5,109 $5,109

-52.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,739 $3,739

$6,219 $6,219

-39.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.45

-1.71%

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

Last update for Sterling: September 12, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,255 in Sterling and $2,488 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 66% 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: $74.0 in Sterling vs $100 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $463 vs $552 per month, with Sterling 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

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

Sterling is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 66% lower in Seattle, WA. 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: $1,255 in Sterling versus $2,488 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,894 in Sterling versus $3,020 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 Sterling – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,699 in Sterling versus $3,880 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sterling but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Sterling the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sterling 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, Sterling 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 Sterling 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.