Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kent, WA and Torrance, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Kent, WA: $3,315 a month against $3,520 in Torrance, CA, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kent, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,315
/mo nomad
Torrance, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,520
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kent, WA and in Torrance, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kent, WA and in Torrance, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,315 in Kent, WA versus $3,520 in Torrance, CA.

  • Kent, WA $3,315
  • Torrance, CA $3,520

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,993 in Kent, WA versus $5,192 in Torrance, CA.

  • Kent, WA $4,993
  • Torrance, CA $5,192

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,670 in Kent, WA versus $6,864 in Torrance, CA.

  • Kent, WA $6,670
  • Torrance, CA $6,864

Living in Kent, WA costs roughly 6% less than in Torrance, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kent, WA 146% above, Torrance, CA 161% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$24.76 $24.76
-20.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6 $80.6
$78.5 $78.5
2.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.78 $13.78
$14.75 $14.75
-6.58%
Cappuccino
$4.76 $4.76
$4.66 $4.66
2.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.77 $3.77
-25.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.74 $2.74
-23.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.84 $6.84
$8.06 $8.06
-15.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$9.85 $9.85
-20.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.29 $1.29
3.88%
White Bread (500g)
$5.00 $5.00
$4.70 $4.70
6.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.89 $4.89
-32.31%
Eggs
$6.65 $6.65
$4.47 $4.47
48.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.62 $11.62
29.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.14 $14.14
$16.07 $16.07
-12.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.82 $22.82
$19.91 $19.91
14.62%
Apples (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$5.02 $5.02
17.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.33 $2.33
-19.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$4.73 $4.73
-17.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.23 $4.23
$5.55 $5.55
-23.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.06 $3.06
-8.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.14 $3.14
-13.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.08 $2.08
-25.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.62 $2.62
-8.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.35 $12.35
$12.92 $12.92
-4.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 $15.23
$14.89 $14.89
2.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.46 $2.46
-15.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$3.06 $3.06
-36.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.97 $1.97
53.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.0 $62.0
$40.40 $40.40
53.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 $2.62
$3.13 $3.13
-16.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.84 $1.84
-10.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.40 $30.40
$32.67 $32.67
-6.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.46 $1.46
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$36.8K $36.8K
-0.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.5K $26.5K
-2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$300 $300
$256 $256
17.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.8 $62.8
$53.2 $53.2
17.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.5 $84.5
$72.2 $72.2
16.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.42 $33.42
$59.3 $59.3
-43.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.01 $17.01
$25.36 $25.36
-32.93%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33 $17.33
$19.95 $19.95
-13.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,667 $2,667
$1,694 $1,694
57.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.9K $30.9K
$15.1K $15.1K
104.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.50 $39.50
$64.5 $64.5
-38.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 $54.6
$63.7 $63.7
-14.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 $91.0
$107 $107
-14.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.76 $40.76
$192 $192
-78.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 $2,075
$2,612 $2,612
-20.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 $1,828
$1,941 $1,941
-5.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,023 $4,023
$4,298 $4,298
-6.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,479 $3,479
$3,426 $3,426
1.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,972 $5,972
$7,546 $7,546
-20.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,988 $3,988
$6,336 $6,336
-37.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kent, WA
Torrance, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,592 $4,592
$5,675 $5,675
-19.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.76
6.39
5.79%

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

Last update for Kent, WA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Torrance, CA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kent, WA
$1.8K
Torrance, CA
$1.9K 6.2% $112
Groceries & Markets
Kent, WA
$459
Torrance, CA
$461 0.6% $2.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kent, WA
$447
Torrance, CA
$381 14.7% $66
Eating Out
Kent, WA
$326
Torrance, CA
$384 18% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Kent, WA
$102
Torrance, CA
$192 89.1% $91
Getting Around
Kent, WA
$85
Torrance, CA
$61 28.7% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Kent, WA
$68
Torrance, CA
$99 45.7% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,075 in Kent, WA and $2,612 in Torrance, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Torrance, CA pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Kent, WA vs $79.0 in Torrance, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $459 vs $461, with Kent, WA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Kent, WA
🇺🇸 Torrance, CA
🕒 Local time
16:42 4:42 PM
16:42 4:42 PM
Same time as Kent, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,588
142,350
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kent, WA Torrance, CA 1,540 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kent, WA
  • Torrance, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kent, WA vs Torrance, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kent, WA or Torrance, CA?
Kent, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Torrance, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kent, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kent, WA or in Torrance, CA?
On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Torrance, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kent, WA compared to Torrance, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,075 in Kent, WA versus $2,612 in Torrance, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kent, WA and in Torrance, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Kent, WA – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $79.0 in Torrance, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kent, WA compared to Torrance, CA?
All in, you'll spend $3,315 per month in Kent, WA versus $3,520 in Torrance, CA – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kent, WA or in Torrance, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kent, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kent, WA or Torrance, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kent, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,315 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kent, WA hard to pass up.
How safe is Kent, WA compared to Torrance, CA?
Safety-wise, Kent, WA and Torrance, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kent, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Torrance, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kent, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?