Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in University Place, WA versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,006 in University Place, WA versus $5,544 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,317 in University Place, WA versus $7,427 in Seattle, WA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: University Place, WA 101% above, Seattle, WA 173% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.21 $16.21

$25.32 $25.32

-35.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$121 $121

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.56 $12.56

$14.11 $14.11

-10.99%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$5.82 $5.82

2.75%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.98 $2.98

-0.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.40 $2.40

-1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.02 $9.02

$7.73 $7.73

16.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.88 $11.88

$7.87 $7.87

50.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.34 $1.34

-16.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.91 $4.91

-13.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$5.14 $5.14

-46.89%

Eggs

$4.98 $4.98

$6.57 $6.57

-24.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$24.64 $24.64

-53.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$15.88 $15.88

2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.13 $19.13

$20.14 $20.14

-5.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$6.27 $6.27

-17.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.86 $2.86

-40.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$5.29 $5.29

-5.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$6.39 $6.39

-41.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.21 $3.21

2.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.83 $3.83

-28.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.74 $2.74

-27.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.58 $2.58

16.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.04 $11.04

$11.64 $11.64

-5.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.24 $18.24

$15.77 $15.77

15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.88 $2.88

-40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.39 $4.39

-18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.76 $2.76

-29.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.67 $2.67

-0.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.70 $1.70

17.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.03 $30.03

$29.74 $29.74

0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.14 $1.14

4.39%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$32.9K $32.9K

-7.56%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.80%

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

$159 $159

$268 $268

-40.85%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$60.9 $60.9

-12.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.5 $86.5

$76.2 $76.2

13.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 $42.45

$78.1 $78.1

-45.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$18.09 $18.09

$15.82 $15.82

14.35%

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

$2,086 $2,086

$2,252 $2,252

-7.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K $29.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

-0.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 $58.5

$70.8 $70.8

-17.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.21 $38.21

$53.1 $53.1

-28.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$117 $117

-17.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$139 $139

-18.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$2,310 $2,310

-30.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 $1,337

$1,849 $1,849

-27.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,657 $2,657

$4,739 $4,739

-43.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$3,556 $3,556

-37.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,593 $2,593

$7,775 $7,775

-66.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,641 $2,641

$5,351 $5,351

-50.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,094 $8,094

$6,575 $6,575

23.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.42

1.40%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,613 in University Place, WA and $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $120 in University Place, WA vs $121 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $444 vs $539 per month, with University Place, WA 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

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

University Place, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

University Place, WA pays 23% 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: $1,613 in University Place, WA versus $2,310 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,086 in University Place, WA versus $2,252 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 University Place, WA – a meal for two runs $120 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. University Place, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, University Place, WA 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, University Place, WA 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 University Place, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.