Cost of Living in Seattle, WA
| Cost of Living in Seattle, WA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 66% higher | 111% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 14% higher | 5% higher |
| Food | 11% higher | 23% higher |
| Healthcare | 10% higher | 31% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 24% higher |
| Goods & Services | 13% higher | 29% higher |
The cost of living in Seattle, WA is 28% higher than the state average and 49% higher than the national average. Seattle, WA housing is 111% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 5% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 29% more in Seattle, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 29% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 31% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 29% 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 $3,088, while home prices circle around $957,832.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Seattle, energy bills cost around $189.85 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 $3.48 in Seattle, a dozen eggs go for around $2.89 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.87.
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 $176.34, while a dentist appointment is priced $144.96 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.75 in Seattle, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $67.75.
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 $42.27 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $47.05.
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 $14.29 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $41.01, while dry cleaning costs about $22.77.
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 $116,068.