Cost of Living in Seattle, WA
| Cost of Living in Seattle, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 39% higher | 112% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 1% higher |
| Food | 2% higher | 10% higher |
| Healthcare | 14% higher | 28% higher |
| Transportation | 3% higher | 28% higher |
| Goods & Services | 15% lower | 22% higher |
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 8% higher than the state average and 45% higher than the national average. Seattle, WA housing is 112% 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 22% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 28% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 22% 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 $2,258, while home prices circle around $1,093,157.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Seattle, energy bills cost around $204.50 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 $4.94 in Seattle, a dozen eggs go for around $3.87 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.94.
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 $179.39, 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 $4.49 in Seattle, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $70.07.
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 $49.17 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $46.92.
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 $15.27 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $48.66, while dry cleaning costs about $24.60.
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 $121,984.