Living Cost Compare
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,030 in Seattle, WA versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $121,984 in Seattle, WA and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 27% higher in Seattle, WA. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Seattle, WA
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,638
$1,085
+34% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,858
$1,191
+36% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$2,359
$1,333
+43% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$2,918
$1,723
+41% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$912,100
$377,300
+59% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$121,984
$88,604
+27% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$72,610
$55,240
+24% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.5 yr
30.3 yr
+5.2 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
44.2%
71.1%
+26.9 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
67.5%
15.7%
+51.8 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
26.6 min
22.2 min
+4.4 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
788.6
471.8
+40% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
5,108.8
1,855.5
+64% 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
53.5°F
52.8°F
+0.7°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
37.7 in
16.1 in
+21.6 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.41/gal
$4.27/gal
+21% in Seattle, WA

Area: Seattle vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
13.4
+10% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.34
$11.84
+45% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / UT)
6.5%
6.1%
+0.4 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in UT

Seattle vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Seattle or West Valley City?
West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Seattle than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Seattle versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Seattle or West Valley City?
Seattle is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).