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Seattle vs London

Seattle and London cost within a few percent of each other for this household — decide on everything except money.

The Seattle skyline at dusk as viewed from the Jose Rizal Bridge. In the foreground is the Interstate 5 in Washington.
Seattle
$4,162/month · United States
Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0
Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and Westminster Bridge as seen from the south bank of the River Thames.
London
$4,050/month · United Kingdom
Terry Ott from Washington, DC Metro Area, United States of America · CC BY 2.0
Seattle monthly
$4,162
Index 65 (NYC = 100)
London monthly
$4,050
Index 63 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-3%
London relative to Seattle
Rent gap
$580
London costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

SeattleLondon
  • Housing
    Housing: Seattle $2,020, London $2,600. Cheaper in Seattle.
  • Food
    Food: Seattle $849, London $617. Cheaper in London.
  • Transport
    Transport: Seattle $189, London $282. Cheaper in Seattle.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Seattle $227, London $267. Cheaper in Seattle.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Seattle $537, London $8.03. Cheaper in London.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Seattle $181, London $169. Cheaper in London.
  • Other
    Other: Seattle $159, London $107. Cheaper in London.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricSeattleLondon
Cost
Total monthly cost4,162 USD4,050 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)6563✓
Housing2,020 USD✓2,600 USD
Utilities227 USD✓267 USD
Food849 USD617 USD✓
Transport189 USD✓282 USD
Healthcare537 USD8 USD✓
Lifestyle181 USD169 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,575 USD✓5,953 USD
Effective tax + social rate21.1%✓28.6%
Left over each month2,413 USD✓1,902 USD
Average local net salary5,800 USD✓3,600 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre2,020 USD✓2,600 USD
3-bed rent, city centre3,856 USD✓5,200 USD
Buy price per m², centre8,000 USD✓15,000 USD
Quality of life
Safety58/10066/100✓
Healthcare86/100✓84/100
Air quality78/100✓60/100
Public transport68/10092/100✓
Walkability74/10090/100✓
English proficiency100/100100/100
Nightlife76/10094/100✓
Family friendliness70/10072/100✓
Median broadband260 Mbps✓90 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature12°C12°C
Summer high26°C23°C✓
Winter low2°C3°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,170 h✓1,480 h
Annual rainfall950 mm600 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access25 min✓90 min
CurrencyUSDGBP
Time zoneAmerica/Los_AngelesEurope/London

Seattle and London cost within a few percent of each other for this household — decide on everything except money.

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Cost of living in SeattleCost of living in LondonConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Seattle vs ChicagoSeattle vs VancouverSeattle vs Toronto
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Seattle or London cheaper?

Seattle and London cost within a few percent of each other for this household — decide on everything except money.

What salary do you need in London compared with Seattle?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,575 a month in Seattle and $5,953 in London, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Seattle or London?

Seattle scores 58/100 on safety and 86/100 on healthcare; London scores 66 and 84. Seattle averages 12°C against 12°C in London.