Cost of Living in Seattle, WA
| Cost of Living in Seattle, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 65% higher | 112% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 9% higher | 2% higher |
| Food | 4% higher | 16% higher |
| Healthcare | 15% higher | 38% higher |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 28% higher |
| Goods & Services | 6% higher | 20% higher |
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 24% 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 2% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 20% more in Seattle, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 20% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 38% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 20% 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 $2,227, while home prices circle around $1,014,801.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Seattle, energy bills cost around $193.41 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 $5.10 in Seattle, a dozen eggs go for around $4.70 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.49.
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 $198.49, while a dentist appointment is priced $149.39 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.66 in Seattle, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $67.20.
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 $40.36 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $37.04.
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 $16.37 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $50.20, while dry cleaning costs about $22.87.
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 $105,391.