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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,017 per month in Fresno, CA vs $3,621 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,256 per month in Fresno, CA vs $5,548 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,495 per month in Fresno, CA vs $7,476 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Fresno, CA is about 17% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fresno, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Fresno, CA by 127%, Seattle, WA by 172%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.09 $20.09

$25.02 $25.02

-19.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 $69.0

$118 $118

-41.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 $11.70

$13.76 $13.76

-14.97%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.85 $5.85

-11.62%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$3.05 $3.05

-7.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.39 $2.39

-15.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.93 $7.93

-1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.75 $8.75

$7.85 $7.85

11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.39 $1.39

-28.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.86 $4.86

-43.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.18 $5.18

-7.92%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$6.69 $6.69

-32.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 $10.04

$25.28 $25.28

-60.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.48 $8.48

$15.92 $15.92

-46.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.94 $16.94

$20.16 $20.16

-15.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$6.19 $6.19

-32.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.88 $2.88

-26.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$5.48 $5.48

-36.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.38 $6.38

-47.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.09 $3.09

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$3.80 $3.80

-44.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.80 $2.80

-31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.61 $2.61

24.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.95 $10.95

$11.41 $11.41

-4.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.09 $18.09

$15.59 $15.59

16.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.99 $2.99

-42.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.23 $4.23

31.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.69 $2.69

-52.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.34 $45.34

$101 $101

-55.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.68 $2.68

24.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.70 $1.70

20.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.80 $24.80

$29.50 $29.50

-15.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.14 $1.14

11.40%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$33.3K $33.3K

10.75%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$26.5K $26.5K

9.34%

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

$308 $308

$261 $261

17.96%

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

$49.90 $49.90

$60.4 $60.4

-17.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$75.8 $75.8

12.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.0 $72.0

$78.8 $78.8

-8.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.1 $75.1

$40.08 $40.08

87.25%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.82 $15.82

-7.02%

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

$979 $979

$2,210 $2,210

-55.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$29.8K $29.8K

-57.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$69.8 $69.8

-20.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.05 $46.05

$52.0 $52.0

-11.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 $74.6

$117 $117

-36.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$139 $139

19.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$2,321 $2,321

-32.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 $1,528

$1,870 $1,870

-18.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,362 $2,362

$4,728 $4,728

-50.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$3,569 $3,569

-35.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,616 $2,616

$7,651 $7,651

-65.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,102 $3,102

$5,034 $5,034

-38.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,759 $3,759

$6,516 $6,516

-42.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.42

1.40%

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

Last update for Fresno, CA: July 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Fresno, CA versus $2,321 in Seattle, 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 73% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $69.0 in Fresno, CA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $542 – making Fresno, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fresno, CA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,526 per month in Fresno, CA and $5,431 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Fresno, CA and $118 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,017 in Fresno, CA and $3,621 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,017 in Fresno, CA and $3,621 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Fresno, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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