Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Berkeley, CA is 14.8% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Berkeley, CA is 1.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.11 $22.11
$25.11 $25.11
-11.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$118 $118
-15.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$13.84 $13.84
-18.06%
Cappuccino
$5.96 $5.96
$5.8 $5.8
2.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.95 $2.95
10.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.51 $2.51
2.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.81 $7.81
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.18 $9.18
$7.84 $7.84
17.09%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.34 $1.34
12.69%
White Bread (500g)
$4.84 $4.84
$4.98 $4.98
-2.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.4 $6.4
$5.35 $5.35
19.63%
Eggs
$4.99 $4.99
$6.91 $6.91
-27.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.54 $21.54
$24.8 $24.8
-13.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 $15.24
$15.74 $15.74
-3.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.02 $23.02
$20.84 $20.84
10.46%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$6.05 $6.05
2.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.75 $2.75
-2.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.47 $5.47
-9.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$6.45 $6.45
7.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.11 $3.11
16.40%
Onion (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.69 $3.69
8.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.78 $2.78
3.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.52 $2.52
9.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.23 $12.23
$11.64 $11.64
5.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.64 $17.64
$17.15 $17.15
2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.94 $2.94
-20.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$4.19 $4.19
-22.43%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.8 $2.8
-8.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.2 $86.2
$101 $101
-14.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.68 $2.68
33.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.65 $1.65
17.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 $29.55
$30.13 $30.13
-1.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.16 $1.16
9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$33.3K $33.3K
-9.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
2.98%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 $220
$271 $271
-18.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.14 $48.14
$61.8 $61.8
-22.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$75.2 $75.2
-10.83%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 $69.7
$78.4 $78.4
-11.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.19 $7.19
$41.04 $41.04
-82.48%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 $15.54
$15.89 $15.89
-2.20%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,142 $2,142
$2,248 $2,248
-4.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.7K $31.7K
$29K $29K
9.14%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4 $67.4
$69.5 $69.5
-3.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74 $46.74
$52.5 $52.5
-11.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$120 $120
-13.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$142 $142
3.69%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,253 $2,253
$2,376 $2,376
-5.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,295 $2,295
$1,829 $1,829
25.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,750 $4,750
$4,702 $4,702
1.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,897 $3,897
$3,474 $3,474
12.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,092 $8,092
$6,928 $6,928
16.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,148 $8,148
$5,224 $5,224
55.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Berkeley, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,617 $6,617
$6,473 $6,473
2.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.42
1.40%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Berkeley, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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