Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Seattle?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Seattle?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Seattle?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Rutland vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 55% higher in Seattle, WA. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,638

+83% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$856

$1,858

+117% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$2,359

+115% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$2,918

+142% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$912,100

+417% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$121,984

+122% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$72,610

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

35.5 yr

+13.0 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

44.2%

+8.5 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

67.5%

+35.3 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

14.7 min

26.6 min

+11.9 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

788.6

+62% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

3,973.3

5,108.8

+29% in Seattle, WA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

53.5°F

+8.9°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

37.7 in

+2.7 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.41/gal

+37% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

14.9

+39% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$21.34

+18% in Rutland, VT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

None

+8.8 pp in VT

Rutland vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Seattle?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Seattle?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).