Cost of Living · Washington
Seattle Cost of Living
Seattle, Washington costs approximately 18.0% above the US national average. Compare with 49 other major US cities.
1.18×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Seattle ranks 1 of 2 cities in Washington by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Seattle (10)
San Francisco, CA
+22.9% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+14.4% more expensive
New York City, NY
+11.9% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+10.2% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+10.2% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+3.4% more expensive
Boston, MA
+3.4% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+2.5% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+1.7% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+1.7% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Seattle (86)
Chula Vista, CA
−2.5% cheaper
Miami, FL
−5.1% cheaper
Portland, OR
−6.8% cheaper
Newark, NJ
−6.8% cheaper
Sacramento, CA
−6.8% cheaper
Riverside, CA
−6.8% cheaper
Denver, CO
−8.5% cheaper
Chicago, IL
−11.0% cheaper
Austin, TX
−11.0% cheaper
Baltimore, MD
−11.0% cheaper
Stockton, CA
−11.0% cheaper
Aurora, CO
−11.0% cheaper
Hialeah, FL
−11.0% cheaper
Frisco, TX
−11.0% cheaper
Las Vegas, NV
−11.9% cheaper
Minneapolis, MN
−11.9% cheaper
Plano, TX
−11.9% cheaper
Chandler, AZ
−11.9% cheaper
Phoenix, AZ
−13.6% cheaper
Philadelphia, PA
−13.6% cheaper
Atlanta, GA
−13.6% cheaper
Tampa, FL
−13.6% cheaper
Henderson, NV
−13.6% cheaper
Reno, NV
−13.6% cheaper
Gilbert, AZ
−13.6% cheaper
Charleston, SC
−13.6% cheaper
Salt Lake City, UT
−13.6% cheaper
Orlando, FL
−14.4% cheaper
Wilmington, DE
−15.3% cheaper
Raleigh, NC
−15.3% cheaper
Virginia Beach, VA
−15.3% cheaper
St. Paul, MN
−15.3% cheaper
Chesapeake, VA
−15.3% cheaper
North Las Vegas, NV
−15.3% cheaper
Boise, ID
−15.3% cheaper
Fresno, CA
−15.3% cheaper
Worcester, MA
−15.3% cheaper
Dallas, TX
−16.1% cheaper
Nashville, TN
−16.1% cheaper
Colorado Springs, CO
−16.1% cheaper
Bakersfield, CA
−16.1% cheaper
St. Petersburg, FL
−16.1% cheaper
Madison, WI
−16.1% cheaper
Norfolk, VA
−16.9% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−17.8% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−17.8% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−17.8% cheaper
Houston, TX
−18.6% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−18.6% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−18.6% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−18.6% cheaper
Garland, TX
−18.6% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−18.6% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−19.5% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−19.5% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−19.5% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−20.3% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−20.3% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−20.3% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−21.2% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−21.2% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−22.0% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−22.0% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−22.0% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−22.0% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−22.0% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−22.0% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−22.0% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−22.0% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−22.0% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−22.9% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−22.9% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−22.9% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−22.9% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−23.7% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−23.7% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−23.7% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−24.6% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−24.6% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−24.6% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−25.4% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−25.4% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−25.4% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−27.1% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−27.1% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−27.1% cheaper
Seattle cost of living, in context
With a cost-of-living index of 1.18× the US national average, Seattle sits above the typical American cost baseline. 10 of the 49 other major US cities we track cost more, while 86 cost less.
What drives the index: housing dominates (typically 30-40% of household budget), followed by transportation (~15%), food (~10%), healthcare (~10%), and utilities/services. Seattle's premium reflects high housing costs in particular — coastal proximity, employer concentration, and supply constraints all push prices.
Salary in Seattle
Salaries in Seattle typically scale with the cost-of-living index. A professional earning $X in a national-average metro would expect approximately $118K for the same role in Seattle. See our salary by job in Seattle pages for specific role estimates across 50 jobs.
Related tools
Seattle Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home with city/state taxes. Seattle salary by job — 50 jobs. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cost of living index for Seattle?▾
Seattle's cost-of-living index is 1.18× US average — meaning living costs are approximately 18.0% above the national average. Major drivers: housing, taxes, transportation. Index based on BEA Regional Price Parities.
Is Seattle expensive to live in?▾
Yes — Seattle is among the more expensive US cities, with costs ~18.0% above national average. Housing is typically the dominant factor.
What salary do I need to live in Seattle?▾
Living comfortably in Seattle typically requires income matching the local cost-of-living multiplier × what you'd need elsewhere. For a "moderate" lifestyle: household income of $60K+ is often suggested. Use our salary by city pages for job-specific estimates.
How does Seattle compare within Washington?▾
Seattle ranks 1 of 2 cities we track in Washington by cost of living. Within-state variation can be significant — major metros typically cost more than smaller cities or rural areas.
Where does this index come from?▾
BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — published annually by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Reflects cost differences for the same basket of goods/services across metros. Useful baseline; specific items (housing, dining out) can vary much more than the overall index suggests.