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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,688 in Washington, DC versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,851 in Washington, DC versus $5,548 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,014 in Washington, DC versus $7,476 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Washington, DC is roughly 2% more expensive than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Washington, DC 177% above, Seattle, WA 172% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.75 $27.75

$25.02 $25.02

10.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$118 $118

2.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 $11.81

$13.76 $13.76

-14.17%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.85 $5.85

-0.68%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.05 $3.05

1.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.39 $2.39

12.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.93 $7.93

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.95 $9.95

$7.85 $7.85

26.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.39 $1.39

-14.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.86 $4.86

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.08 $7.08

$5.18 $5.18

36.68%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$6.69 $6.69

-36.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.45 $17.45

$25.28 $25.28

-30.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.49 $15.49

$15.92 $15.92

-2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.89 $19.89

$20.16 $20.16

-1.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.19 $6.19

-2.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.88 $2.88

-28.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$5.48 $5.48

-4.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$6.38 $6.38

3.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.09 $3.09

16.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.80 $3.80

-1.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.80 $2.80

-3.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.61 $2.61

-3.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.53 $12.53

$11.41 $11.41

9.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.59 $15.59

0.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.99 $2.99

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.23 $4.23

7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.7 $74.7

$101 $101

-25.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

$2.68 $2.68

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.70 $1.70

42.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.45 $29.45

$29.50 $29.50

-0.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.14 $1.14

-15.79%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$33.3K $33.3K

-10.54%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.5K $26.5K

-2.94%

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

$206 $206

$261 $261

-21.28%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$60.4 $60.4

-1.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$75.8 $75.8

-11.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 $109

$78.8 $78.8

38.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.15 $38.15

$40.08 $40.08

-4.82%

Cinema Ticket

$17.05 $17.05

$15.82 $15.82

7.77%

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

$2,648 $2,648

$2,210 $2,210

19.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K $40.5K

$29.8K $29.8K

35.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.2 $80.2

$69.8 $69.8

14.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.30 $49.30

$52.0 $52.0

-5.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$117 $117

-12.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$139 $139

2.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,575 $2,575

$2,321 $2,321

10.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,056 $2,056

$1,870 $1,870

9.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,914 $5,914

$4,728 $4,728

25.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,251 $4,251

$3,569 $3,569

19.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,632 $8,632

$7,651 $7,651

12.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,300 $3,300

$5,034 $5,034

-34.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,185 $7,185

$6,516 $6,516

10.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.42

0.93%

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

Last update for Washington, DC: July 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,575 in Washington, DC and $2,321 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Washington, DC pays 10% 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: $122 in Washington, DC vs $118 in Seattle, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $503 vs $542, with Washington, DC cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Seattle, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Washington, DC, 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: $2,575 in Washington, DC versus $2,321 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 $122 in Washington, DC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,688 per month in Washington, DC versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA – a 2% 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 Washington, DC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Washington, DC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.