What is the cost of living in Seattle, WA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Seattle has an overall cost of living index of 181, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Washington, Seattle has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Washington's index of 120.
The standard of living in Seattle ranks as #183 most affordable out of the 191 places we measured in Washington. By definition, that implies Seattle ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Evergreen State.
For more reading on life in Seattle, check out:
Seattle Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Seattle. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Seattle is 107.
The Groceries index in Seattle is 111.
The Health index in Seattle is 326.
The Housing index in Seattle is 125.
The Transportation index in Seattle is 112.
The Utilities index in Seattle is 123.
| Living Expense | Seattle | Washington | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 181 | 120 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 326 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 125 | 111 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 110 | 100 |
Seattle Cost Of Living Compared To Washington Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Washington, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Seattle Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Seattle, WA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Washington, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Seattle is $868,680.
The Median Rent in Seattle is $2,030.
The Median Income in Seattle is $123,860.
The Home Value To Income in Seattle is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Seattle is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Seattle | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $868,680 | $601,016 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,030 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $123,860 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 6.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Seattle, WA Costs By Category
Detailed Seattle Services costs vs. Washington
| Item | Seattle | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.4 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.59 | $18 |
| Haircut | $50.2 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $72.25 | $45.56 |
Detailed Seattle Groceries costs vs. Washington
| Item | Seattle | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.1 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.4 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $12.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Seattle Health costs vs. Washington
| Item | Seattle | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $198.49 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $236.25 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.39 | $113.29 |
Detailed Seattle Transportation costs vs. Washington
| Item | Seattle | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Seattle Utilities costs vs. Washington
| Item | Seattle | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $202.97 | $192.25 |
Seattle SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Seattle
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Seattle. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kent, WA has a cost of living index of 133, 0.7x Seattle.
Kirkland, WA has a cost of living index of 180, 1.0x Seattle.
Bremerton, WA has a cost of living index of 120, 0.7x Seattle.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent, WA | 135,603 | 133 | 0.7x |
| Kirkland, WA | 92,621 | 180 | 1.0x |
| Bremerton, WA | 44,830 | 120 | 0.7x |
| SeaTac, WA | 32,414 | 128 | 0.7x |
| Mercer Island, WA | 25,307 | 266 | 1.5x |
| Bainbridge Island, WA | 24,631 | 186 | 1.0x |
| Tukwila, WA | 21,451 | 127 | 0.7x |
| Silverdale, WA | 20,685 | 134 | 0.7x |
| Port Orchard, WA | 17,149 | 131 | 0.7x |
| White Center, WA | 14,886 | 140 | 0.8x |
