Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wichita, KS and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Wichita, KS: $2,195 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

105

Cost of Living Index in Wichita, KS
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Wichita, KS Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Wichita, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$2,195

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wichita, KS and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Wichita, KS and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,195 in Wichita, KS versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

Wichita, KS $2,195
Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,219 in Wichita, KS versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

Wichita, KS $3,219
Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,243 in Wichita, KS versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

Wichita, KS $4,243
Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Wichita, KS costs roughly 42% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wichita, KS 62% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.98 $17.98

$24.52 $24.52

-26.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 $59.7

$98.2 $98.2

-39.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 $10.81

$14.79 $14.79

-26.91%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$6.52 $6.52

-18.71%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$3.23 $3.23

-22.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.17 $3.17

-42.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.04 $5.04

$7.85 $7.85

-35.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 $6.10

$8.03 $8.03

-24.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.21 $1.21

-28.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$5.14 $5.14

-25.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$6.05 $6.05

-22.98%

Eggs

$4.07 $4.07

$4.88 $4.88

-16.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$19.18 $19.18

-39.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.13 $10.13

$18.91 $18.91

-46.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.14 $18.14

$23.31 $23.31

-22.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.99 $5.99

-0.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.93 $1.93

-10.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.25 $5.25

-3.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$6.57 $6.57

-19.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.62 $3.62

-22.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.31 $3.31

-16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.78 $2.78

-17.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.51 $2.51

-8.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.51 $9.51

$12.18 $12.18

-21.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$14.83 $14.83

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$4.22 $4.22

-48.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$5.77 $5.77

-34.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.95 $2.95

-42.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 $54.1

$106 $106

-49.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.65 $2.65

-5.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.72 $1.72

-11.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.29 $40.29

$29.72 $29.72

35.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.49 $1.49

-34.23%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$35.9K $35.9K

-21.43%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.37%

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

$277 $277

$302 $302

-8.20%

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

$82.3 $82.3

$70.1 $70.1

17.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$85.3 $85.3

-18.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.57 $30.57

$77.8 $77.8

-60.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.66 $19.66

$34.58 $34.58

-43.15%

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 $15.26

$17.84 $17.84

-14.46%

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

$922 $922

$2,973 $2,973

-68.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$31.3K $31.3K

-47.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.32 $47.32

$76.6 $76.6

-38.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.83 $30.83

$54.1 $54.1

-42.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$128 $128

-14.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$164 $164

-14.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 $994

$2,445 $2,445

-59.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$784 $784

$1,947 $1,947

-59.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$4,744 $4,744

-66.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 $1,289

$3,469 $3,469

-62.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,510 $1,510

$7,367 $7,367

-79.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,508 $1,508

$5,127 $5,127

-70.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,571 $3,571

$6,506 $6,506

-45.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

6.89

-3.48%

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

Last update for Wichita, KS: October 19, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Wichita, KS

$784 35.7%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5% 148% $1.2K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Wichita, KS

$429 19.6%

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1% 6.5% $28

Groceries & Markets

Wichita, KS

$407 18.5%

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4% 34.1% $139

Eating Out

Wichita, KS

$295 13.4%

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6% 35.6% $105

Clothing & Footwear

Wichita, KS

$148 6.7%

Seattle, WA

$190 5% 28.7% $42

Getting Around

Wichita, KS

$71 3.2%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 82.1% $58

Sport & Entertainment

Wichita, KS

$61 2.8%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 85.8% $52

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Wichita, KS and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 82% 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: $60.0 in Wichita, KS vs $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $546 per month, with Wichita, KS cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Wichita, KS

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

19:52 7:52 PM

17:52 5:52 PM

2 h behind Wichita, KS

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

357,698

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Wichita, KS Seattle, WA 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Wichita, KS
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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

Wichita, KS vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wichita, KS is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Seattle, WA. 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: $994 in Wichita, KS versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Wichita, KS – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,195 per month in Wichita, KS versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,195 in Wichita, KS versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wichita, KS but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Wichita, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Wichita, KS 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.

Expats usually find Wichita, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.