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: $3,723 in Washington, DC versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,945 in Washington, DC versus $5,545 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,167 in Washington, DC versus $7,456 in Seattle, WA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Washington, DC 177% above, Seattle, WA 170% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.42 $27.42

$24.77 $24.77

10.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$119 $119

-0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$13.78 $13.78

-11.68%

Cappuccino

$5.88 $5.88

$5.61 $5.61

4.81%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.89 $2.89

3.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.46 $2.46

10.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.96 $7.96

3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.93 $9.93

$8.21 $8.21

20.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.39 $1.39

-14.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.86 $4.86

-5.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$5.16 $5.16

34.50%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$6.61 $6.61

-33.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.93 $17.93

$25.06 $25.06

-28.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.44 $15.44

$15.77 $15.77

-2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$20.32 $20.32

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.23 $6.23

-3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.74 $2.74

-27.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.33 $5.33

0.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$6.49 $6.49

2.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.09 $3.09

12.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.86 $3.86

-3.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.75 $2.75

-2.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.55 $2.55

-1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.35 $11.35

8.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.29 $16.29

$15.48 $15.48

5.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.84 $2.84

1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.24 $4.24

6.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.8 $73.8

$97.8 $97.8

-24.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.57 $2.57

55.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.72 $1.72

42.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.03 $30.03

$30.17 $30.17

-0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.15 $1.15

-15.65%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$33.3K $33.3K

-10.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.00%

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

$206 $206

$263 $263

-21.63%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$60.2 $60.2

-0.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$74.3 $74.3

-6.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$111 $111

$80.6 $80.6

37.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.44 $38.44

$40.99 $40.99

-6.22%

Cinema Ticket

$17.03 $17.03

$15.91 $15.91

7.04%

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

$2,654 $2,654

$2,281 $2,281

16.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$29.8K $29.8K

33.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.9 $78.9

$70.0 $70.0

12.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 $50.4

$53.8 $53.8

-6.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$119 $119

-14.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,593 $2,593

$2,312 $2,312

12.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 $2,050

$1,829 $1,829

12.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,998 $5,998

$4,694 $4,694

27.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,240 $4,240

$3,491 $3,491

21.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,526 $8,526

$8,154 $8,154

4.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,297 $3,297

$5,200 $5,200

-36.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,120 $7,120

$6,564 $6,564

8.47%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,593 in Washington, DC and $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Washington, DC pays 8% 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: $118 in Washington, DC vs $119 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $505 vs $538 per month, with Washington, DC 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

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.

Washington, DC pays 8% 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: $2,593 in Washington, DC versus $2,312 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 $119 versus $118 in Washington, DC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,723 per month in Washington, DC versus $3,634 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.