City cost profile
Cost of Living in Seattle
Dated monthly cost benchmarks for Seattle, including rent, transport, utilities, meal prices, and normalized cost indexes. Use the source links and current local options to validate your final budget.
Data confidence
Data notes and source links
This city page combines index data, rent, transport, and utilities into an early planning profile. Benchmarks are not live listings, payroll quotes, tax advice, or lease advice. Check the linked source and current local options before making a financial decision.
Planning takeaway
Seattle is a mid-to-high cost city in the current sample, with housing and transport still worth validating by neighborhood.
Use the calculator to apply your own spending pattern. The city benchmarks below are a starting point, not a replacement for checking current rental listings and local transit options.
Estimate your own budgetTypical monthly costs
| Average meal | $22 |
| Estimated single-person monthly cost | $3,900 |
| Estimated family monthly cost | $9,700 |
| Rent index | 57 |
| Groceries index | 99 |
| Restaurant index | 83.6 |
Data sources
- Cost index: Numbeo current city index
- Rent: Zillow Rental Manager
- Transport: ORCA PugetPass
- Utilities: Numbeo city benchmark
- Last updated: 2026-05-25
- Confidence: medium
FAQ
Is Seattle expensive?
Seattle has a cost index of 89 in this sample, where New York is 100. Use this as a relative signal rather than an exact monthly bill.
What is the biggest cost to check before moving to Seattle?
Rent is usually the largest variable. This page uses Zillow Rental Manager, but neighborhood and apartment quality can materially change the result.
How should I use these estimates?
Keep all calculator inputs in the same currency, compare relative changes, then verify local rent, transport, and utility prices before making a financial decision.
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