Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Washington, DC is 0.6% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 3.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Washington, DC is 1.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 7.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.47 $27.47
$25.11 $25.11
9.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 $121
$118 $118
1.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.15 $12.15
$13.84 $13.84
-12.21%
Cappuccino
$5.83 $5.83
$5.8 $5.8
0.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 $3.09
$2.95 $2.95
4.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.51 $2.51
11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.11 $8.11
$7.81 $7.81
3.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.9 $9.9
$7.84 $7.84
26.28%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.34 $1.34
-11.19%
White Bread (500g)
$4.64 $4.64
$4.98 $4.98
-6.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.93 $6.93
$5.35 $5.35
29.53%
Eggs
$4.45 $4.45
$6.91 $6.91
-35.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 $17.73
$24.8 $24.8
-28.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.51 $15.51
$15.74 $15.74
-1.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.42 $19.42
$20.84 $20.84
-6.81%
Apples (1kg)
$6.27 $6.27
$6.05 $6.05
3.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.75 $2.75
-28.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$5.47 $5.47
-2.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.45 $6.45
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$3.11 $3.11
15.76%
Onion (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.69 $3.69
-0.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.78 $2.78
-3.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.52 $2.52
0.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.45 $12.45
$11.64 $11.64
6.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.78 $15.78
$17.15 $17.15
-7.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.94 $2.94
-3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$4.19 $4.19
10.50%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.8 $2.8
-3.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.8 $75.8
$101 $101
-24.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.68 $2.68
50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.65 $1.65
49.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.03 $30.03
$30.13 $30.13
-0.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.16 $1.16
-19.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$33.3K $33.3K
-8.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
-2.60%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 $208
$271 $271
-23.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 $59.3
$61.8 $61.8
-4.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69 $69
$75.2 $75.2
-8.29%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 $112
$78.4 $78.4
42.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.39 $38.39
$41.04 $41.04
-6.46%
Cinema Ticket
$17.1 $17.1
$15.89 $15.89
7.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,695 $2,695
$2,248 $2,248
19.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.6K $40.6K
$29K $29K
40.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.8 $79.8
$69.5 $69.5
14.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 $50.7
$52.5 $52.5
-3.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$120 $120
-12.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$142 $142
0.42%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,593 $2,593
$2,376 $2,376
9.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,124 $2,124
$1,829 $1,829
16.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,850 $5,850
$4,702 $4,702
24.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,275 $4,275
$3,474 $3,474
23.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,356 $6,356
$6,928 $6,928
-8.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,963 $4,963
$5,224 $5,224
-5.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,113 $6,113
$6,473 $6,473
-5.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
6.42
0.93%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Washington, DC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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