Cost of Living Comparison Between Waltham, MA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Waltham, MA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,969 in Waltham, MA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,092 in Waltham, MA versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,215 in Waltham, MA versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Waltham, MA is roughly 10% more expensive than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waltham, MA 196% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.97 $18.97

$24.80 $24.80

-23.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.7 $98.7

$118 $118

-16.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$13.77 $13.77

-19.90%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$5.71 $5.71

-19.44%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.05 $3.05

-10.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.50 $2.50

-14.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$7.83 $7.83

-21.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 $7.55

$7.88 $7.88

-4.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.35 $1.35

-5.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.06 $5.06

-33.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.39 $5.39

-26.16%

Eggs

$4.79 $4.79

$6.85 $6.85

-30.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.49 $16.49

$25.07 $25.07

-34.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.61 $10.61

$15.85 $15.85

-33.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.42 $20.42

$20.59 $20.59

-0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$6.14 $6.14

-7.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.82 $2.82

-21.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.51 $5.51

7.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.74 $6.74

17.06%

Potato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.15 $3.15

38.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.82 $3.82

-37.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.69 $2.69

5.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.64 $2.64

-44.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.05 $11.05

$11.65 $11.65

-5.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.69 $15.69

-6.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.93 $2.93

-26.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$4.24 $4.24

-30.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.82 $2.82

-18.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.0 $60.0

$100 $100

-40.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.60 $2.60

-1.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.41 $28.41

$30.22 $30.22

-5.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.19 $1.19

-29.41%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32.7K $32.7K

-10.12%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

-2.69%

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

$323 $323

$263 $263

23.11%

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

$56.8 $56.8

$60.9 $60.9

-6.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.2 $79.2

$75.9 $75.9

4.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.18 $42.18

$79.6 $79.6

-47.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$16.27 $16.27

-8.11%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$2,281 $2,281

-33.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K $27.0K

$29.3K $29.3K

-7.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$68.6 $68.6

-2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.13 $32.13

$52.0 $52.0

-38.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 $65.2

$116 $116

-43.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 $83.6

$143 $143

-41.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,715 $2,715

$2,336 $2,336

16.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,516 $2,516

$1,863 $1,863

35.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,285 $4,285

$4,628 $4,628

-7.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,942 $4,942

$3,477 $3,477

42.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,076 $5,076

$6,617 $6,617

-23.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.42

0.16%

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

Last update for Waltham, MA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,715 in Waltham, MA and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Waltham, MA vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $547 per month, with Waltham, MA 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

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

Waltham, MA and Seattle, WA differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($3,969 vs $3,598 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 30% 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: $2,715 in Waltham, MA versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $118 versus $99.0 in Waltham, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,969 per month in Waltham, MA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Seattle, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Waltham, MA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Waltham, MA 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 Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Waltham, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.