One significant difference between living in Seattle and living in D/FW is the cost of living. Things like rent and food do generally cost more here, however it hasn't impacted us.

Our rent costs 64% more here than it did in the suburb of Dallas we were staying in, however if we were staying as close to downtown Dallas as we're staying to downtown Seattle, the cost of rent would be pretty close. Continuing to live in a suburb wasn't an option, so our rent cost would've increased regardless.

And, we've managed our other expenses well. Groceries are a little more expensive here, so we've learned to shop for better deals and only buy things when they're on sale. Gas and parking are more expensive here, so we sold a car and drive very little.

Overall, our expenses have been a little higher on a monthly basis, but if we lived in Dallas and bought a new car, we'd be spending more than we spend here. And, with the new higher-paying jobs we've both gotten, our income after expenses is higher here. So, we're actually better off financially after moving here.