Cost of Living Comparison Between Stillwater, MN and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Stillwater, MN and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,893 in Stillwater, MN versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,028 in Stillwater, MN versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,163 in Stillwater, MN versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Stillwater, MN costs roughly 25% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stillwater, MN 111% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.48 $17.48

$24.68 $24.68

-29.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 $81.6

$99.1 $99.1

-17.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.99 $11.99

$15.09 $15.09

-20.54%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$6.62 $6.62

-12.24%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.13 $3.13

-4.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.98 $2.98

-25.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$8.12 $8.12

-13.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.85 $7.85

4.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.17 $1.17

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$5.20 $5.20

-29.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.09 $7.09

$6.40 $6.40

10.78%

Eggs

$3.65 $3.65

$4.91 $4.91

-25.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 $10.44

$21.46 $21.46

-51.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$18.58 $18.58

-23.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 $19.52

$23.05 $23.05

-15.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.79 $5.79

-21.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.88 $1.88

-4.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.38 $5.38

-15.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$6.30 $6.30

-18.25%

Potato (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.80 $3.80

13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.26 $3.26

19.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.87 $2.87

-20.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.71 $2.71

-4.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.12 $13.12

$14.15 $14.15

-7.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.92 $15.92

$15.07 $15.07

5.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$4.36 $4.36

-33.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 $5.59

$5.75 $5.75

-2.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.5 $83.5

$110 $110

-24.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.57 $2.57

96.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.65 $1.65

1.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.04 $24.04

$29.88 $29.88

-19.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.38 $1.38

-25.36%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$36.4K $36.4K

-0.77%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.87%

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

$133 $133

$296 $296

-55.23%

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

$54.0 $54.0

$71.3 $71.3

-24.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.0 $68.0

$88.0 $88.0

-22.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 $123

$81.5 $81.5

51.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.58 $35.58

$35.70 $35.70

-0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 $15.22

$18.33 $18.33

-16.97%

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

$1,349 $1,349

$3,067 $3,067

-56.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$30.6K $30.6K

16.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 $57.6

$77.0 $77.0

-25.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.28 $44.28

$54.0 $54.0

-17.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 $90.3

$128 $128

-29.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.5 $50.5

$165 $165

-69.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 $1,513

$2,418 $2,418

-37.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 $1,515

$1,931 $1,931

-21.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$4,756 $4,756

-52.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 $2,131

$3,584 $3,584

-40.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,977 $2,977

$7,403 $7,403

-59.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,886 $2,886

$5,056 $5,056

-42.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,798 $6,798

$6,320 $6,320

7.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.42

-2.34%

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

Last update for Stillwater, MN: August 29, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,513 in Stillwater, MN and $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stillwater, MN pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $82.0 in Stillwater, MN vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $554 per month, with Stillwater, MN 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

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

Stillwater, MN is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Stillwater, MN, 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: $1,513 in Stillwater, MN versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Stillwater, MN – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,893 per month in Stillwater, MN versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Stillwater, MN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Stillwater, MN 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, Stillwater, MN 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 Stillwater, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.