Cost of Living in Seattle, WA
| Cost of Living in Seattle, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 58% higher | 107% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 1% higher |
| Food | 4% higher | 10% higher |
| Healthcare | 9% higher | 26% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 29% higher |
| Goods & Services | 9% higher | 23% higher |
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 23% higher than the state average and 44% higher than the national average. Seattle, WA housing is 107% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 1% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 10% pricier in Seattle, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 23% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 26% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 23% pricier in Seattle, WA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Seattle is $2,226, while home prices circle around $1,093,082.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Seattle, energy bills cost around $207.56 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.84 in Seattle, a dozen eggs go for around $4.42 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.79.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Seattle, an optometry check-up costs around $203.84, while a dentist appointment is priced $157.05 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.40 in Seattle, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $73.15.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $51.42 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $49.63.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Seattle, you should budget around $15.87 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $50.74, while dry cleaning costs about $24.91.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Seattle, the median household income is $123,860.