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: $3,058 in Longmont, CO versus $2,895 in Petaluma, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,606 in Longmont, CO versus $4,247 in Petaluma, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,154 in Longmont, CO versus $5,598 in Petaluma, CA.

Living in Longmont, CO is roughly 6% more expensive than Petaluma, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Longmont, CO 127% above, Petaluma, CA 115% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.24 $20.24

$22.74 $22.74

-10.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 $69.7

$86.6 $86.6

-19.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 $11.15

$12.06 $12.06

-7.55%

Cappuccino

$6.40 $6.40

$4.78 $4.78

33.89%

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

$3.30 $3.30

$2.90 $2.90

13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.14 $2.14

14.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$7.88 $7.88

-9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.24 $8.24

$8.25 $8.25

-0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.24 $1.24

-20.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$4.70 $4.70

-21.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.45 $4.45

-3.60%

Eggs

$5.64 $5.64

$5.36 $5.36

5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.14 $14.14

$16.26 $16.26

-13.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.63 $12.63

30.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.92 $17.92

2.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$7.58 $7.58

-28.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.75 $2.75

-44.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$8.03 $8.03

-49.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$8.42 $8.42

-41.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.87 $3.87

2.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.88 $3.88

-4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.14 $2.14

5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.36 $2.36

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.91 $8.91

$12.05 $12.05

-26.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.94 $16.94

$15.88 $15.88

6.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.78 $1.78

6.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.95 $3.95

-7.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.97 $1.97

-1.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$119 $119

$65.6 $65.6

80.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.46 $3.46

-26.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.89 $1.89

-24.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.75 $23.75

$29.44 $29.44

-19.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.30 $1.30

-37.69%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$24.3K $24.3K

45.33%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.35%

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

$214 $214

$276 $276

-22.60%

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

$61.2 $61.2

$50.6 $50.6

20.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 $71.7

$74.0 $74.0

-3.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.47 $49.47

$42.55 $42.55

16.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.7 $63.7

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.11 $14.11

12.76%

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

$1,520 $1,520

$1,881 $1,881

-19.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$37.1K $37.1K

-34.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$59.5 $59.5

-2.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.14 $37.14

$60.3 $60.3

-38.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 $88.4

$94.8 $94.8

-6.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$123 $123

-18.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,787 $1,787

$1,601 $1,601

11.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 $1,596

$1,339 $1,339

19.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,759 $2,759

$3,053 $3,053

-9.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,858 $2,858

$2,232 $2,232

28.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,699 $3,699

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,384 $4,384

$2,964 $2,964

47.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Longmont, CO: April 11, 2026

Last update for Petaluma, CA: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,787 in Longmont, CO and $1,601 in Petaluma, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Longmont, CO pays 48% 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: $70 in Longmont, CO vs $87 in Petaluma, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $498 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 6% in total monthly costs ($3,058 vs $2,895 including rent). Petaluma, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Longmont, CO pays 48% more on average, 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: $1,787 in Longmont, CO versus $1,601 in Petaluma, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,058 per month in Longmont, CO versus $2,895 in Petaluma, CA – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Petaluma, CA runs roughly 81% less than in Longmont, CO. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Petaluma, CA 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 Petaluma, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Longmont, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.