Cost of Living Comparison Between Longmont, CO and Petaluma, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Longmont, CO and Petaluma, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,050 in Longmont, CO versus $4,127 in Petaluma, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,563 in Longmont, CO versus $5,778 in Petaluma, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,077 in Longmont, CO versus $7,429 in Petaluma, CA.

Living in Longmont, CO costs roughly 26% less than in Petaluma, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Longmont, CO 122% above, Petaluma, CA 200% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$27.42 $27.42

-27.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$90.2 $90.2

-10.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.53 $10.53

$12.17 $12.17

-13.48%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$5.37 $5.37

6.52%

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

$3.19 $3.19

$3.47 $3.47

-8.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$3.20 $3.20

-24.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.10 $7.10

$7.90 $7.90

-10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.84 $7.84

1.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.41 $1.41

-26.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.29 $4.29

21.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.73 $4.73

-12.68%

Eggs

$6.16 $6.16

$5.34 $5.34

15.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

$20.57 $20.57

-31.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.61 $13.61

$16.30 $16.30

-16.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.75 $19.75

$19.56 $19.56

0.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$6.81 $6.81

-18.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.25 $2.25

-32.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$6.28 $6.28

-28.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$5.90 $5.90

-20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$3.75 $3.75

-36.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.07 $3.07

12.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.06 $3.06

-22.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.72 $2.72

-15.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.02 $10.02

$12.05 $12.05

-16.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.27 $17.27

$11.94 $11.94

44.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.70 $1.70

43.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.30 $2.30

6.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.0 $84.0

$276 $276

-69.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.23 $3.23

-24.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.94 $1.94

-29.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.09 $24.09

$28.85 $28.85

-16.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.40 $1.40

-35.71%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$36.3K $36.3K

-3.85%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.4K $26.4K

-5.05%

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

$207 $207

$191 $191

8.07%

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

$52.3 $52.3

$50.6 $50.6

3.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$69.3 $69.3

7.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.64 $39.64

$124 $124

-67.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.6 $65.6

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 $15.20

$14.07 $14.07

8.03%

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

$1,612 $1,612

$1,605 $1,605

0.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$37.9K $37.9K

-35.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 $58.9

$55.4 $55.4

6.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.19 $49.19

$55.7 $55.7

-11.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 $83.3

$108 $108

-23.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$128 $128

-21.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$2,428 $2,428

-30.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 $1,548

$2,282 $2,282

-32.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,926 $2,926

$3,628 $3,628

-19.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,791 $2,791

$3,478 $3,478

-19.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,760 $3,760

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,428 $4,428

$2,977 $2,977

48.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

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

Last update for Longmont, CO: August 30, 2026

Last update for Petaluma, CA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,678 in Longmont, CO and $2,428 in Petaluma, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Longmont, CO pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Longmont, CO vs $90.0 in Petaluma, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $500 per month, with Longmont, CO cheaper across the board.

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

Longmont, CO vs Petaluma, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Longmont, CO and Petaluma, CA differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($3,050 vs $4,127 including rent). Longmont, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Longmont, CO, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,678 in Longmont, CO versus $2,428 in Petaluma, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,050 per month in Longmont, CO versus $4,127 in Petaluma, CA – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Longmont, CO runs roughly 229% less than in Petaluma, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Longmont, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Longmont, CO and Petaluma, 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.

Expats usually find Longmont, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Petaluma, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.