Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,205 in Wilkes-Barre, PA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,357 in Wilkes-Barre, PA versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,508 in Wilkes-Barre, PA versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Wilkes-Barre, PA costs roughly 43% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wilkes-Barre, PA 60% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.27 $18.27

$24.68 $24.68

-25.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.27 $49.27

$99.1 $99.1

-50.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.54 $10.54

$15.09 $15.09

-30.15%

Cappuccino

$3.91 $3.91

$6.62 $6.62

-40.94%

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

$0.98 $0.98

$3.13 $3.13

-68.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.98 $2.98

-33.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.74 $6.74

$8.12 $8.12

-17.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$7.85 $7.85

-2.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.17 $1.17

-24.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.20 $5.20

-34.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$6.40 $6.40

-28.91%

Eggs

$3.92 $3.92

$4.91 $4.91

-20.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 $10.94

$21.46 $21.46

-49.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.59 $13.59

$18.58 $18.58

-26.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.00 $18.00

$23.05 $23.05

-21.91%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$5.79 $5.79

9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.88 $1.88

-27.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.38 $5.38

-3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.95 $6.95

$6.30 $6.30

10.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.80 $3.80

-20.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.26 $3.26

18.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.87 $2.87

2.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.71 $2.71

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.15 $14.15

2.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$15.07 $15.07

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.36 $4.36

-31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.75 $5.75

-15.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 $1.51

$3.06 $3.06

-50.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.57 $2.57

47.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.65 $1.65

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.26 $30.26

$29.88 $29.88

1.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.38 $1.38

-27.54%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$36.4K $36.4K

-3.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.66%

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

$235 $235

$296 $296

-20.53%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$71.3 $71.3

-17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.2 $74.2

$88.0 $88.0

-15.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 $51.0

$81.5 $81.5

-37.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$14.97 $14.97

$18.33 $18.33

-18.33%

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

$1,694 $1,694

$3,067 $3,067

-44.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K $17.8K

$30.6K $30.6K

-41.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 $55.0

$77.0 $77.0

-28.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.12 $47.12

$54.0 $54.0

-12.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 $96.8

$128 $128

-24.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$165 $165

-25.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 $1,251

$2,418 $2,418

-48.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$833 $833

$1,931 $1,931

-56.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,772 $1,772

$4,756 $4,756

-62.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,744 $1,744

$3,584 $3,584

-51.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,292 $4,292

$6,320 $6,320

-32.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

6.42

-6.07%

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

Last update for Wilkes-Barre, PA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,251 in Wilkes-Barre, PA and $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 47% 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: $49.00 in Wilkes-Barre, PA vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $442 vs $554 per month, with Wilkes-Barre, PA 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

Wilkes-Barre, PA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wilkes-Barre, PA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 47% 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: $1,251 in Wilkes-Barre, PA versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,694 in Wilkes-Barre, PA versus $3,067 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Wilkes-Barre, PA – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,205 in Wilkes-Barre, PA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wilkes-Barre, PA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Wilkes-Barre, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.