Cost of Living Comparison Between Alameda, CA and Bothell, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Alameda, CA and Bothell, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,725 per month in Alameda, CA vs $3,094 in Bothell, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,132 per month in Alameda, CA vs $4,701 in Bothell, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,539 per month in Alameda, CA vs $6,308 in Bothell, WA, rent included.

Alameda, CA costs about 20% more than Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Alameda, CA and Bothell, WA sit above the global median – Alameda, CA by 179%, Bothell, WA by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$20.20 $20.20

-1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$100 $100

-16.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.95 $14.95

$13.88 $13.88

7.71%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$5.82 $5.82

-10.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.42 $3.42

-1.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.50 $2.50

-19.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.56 $7.56

$6.90 $6.90

9.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$7.83 $7.83

2.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.29 $1.29

10.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.86 $3.86

25.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$5.36 $5.36

24.44%

Eggs

$4.68 $4.68

$6.75 $6.75

-30.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$17.12 $17.12

-22.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.86 $10.86

38.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.67 $17.67

$16.57 $16.57

6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$6.44 $6.44

-10.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.85 $1.85

34.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.28 $5.28

-18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.69 $6.69

$5.30 $5.30

26.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.24 $3.24

16.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.74 $2.74

23.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.96 $1.96

-29.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.67 $2.67

3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.45 $11.45

3.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$14.82 $14.82

1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.91 $2.91

-40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.23 $4.23

-22.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.79 $2.79

28.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.63 $2.63

59.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.63 $1.63

17.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.76 $14.76

$30.50 $30.50

-51.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.17 $1.17

4.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.9K $30.9K

$32.9K $32.9K

-6.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K $27.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

2.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$225 $225

$155 $155

44.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.0 $55.0

$61.8 $61.8

-10.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$80.7 $80.7

-15.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$203 $203

$59.0 $59.0

243.92%

Cinema Ticket

$14.89 $14.89

$15.09 $15.09

-1.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$1,464 $1,464

9.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.6K $38.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

31.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.15 $48.15

$51.5 $51.5

-6.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.40 $34.40

$52.3 $52.3

-34.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 $72.6

$119 $119

-39.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$140 $140

-1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,478 $2,478

$1,900 $1,900

30.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 $2,194

$1,625 $1,625

34.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,589 $4,589

$3,315 $3,315

38.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,190 $3,190

$2,881 $2,881

10.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,124 $7,124

$5,900 $5,900

20.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,892 $4,892

$4,922 $4,922

-0.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,766 $6,766

$6,241 $6,241

8.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.46

0.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alameda, CA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,478 in Alameda, CA versus $1,900 in Bothell, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Alameda, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Alameda, CA versus $100 in Bothell, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $473 in Alameda, CA vs $454 in Bothell, WA – so Bothell, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alameda, CA vs Bothell, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,725 in Alameda, CA, $3,094 in Bothell, WA – roughly 20% apart. Alameda, CA costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,587 per month in Alameda, CA and $4,642 in Bothell, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bothell, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,725 in Alameda, CA and $3,094 in Bothell, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,603 per month in Alameda, CA and $1,464 in Bothell, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,725 in Alameda, CA and $3,094 in Bothell, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Alameda, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,094 in Bothell, WA to $3,725 in Alameda, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bothell, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alameda, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.