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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,650 per month in Modesto, CA vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,106 per month in Modesto, CA vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,561 per month in Modesto, CA vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Modesto, CA is about 26% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Modesto, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Modesto, CA by 98%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.10 $15.10

$24.80 $24.80

-39.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 $80.4

$118 $118

-31.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 $8.84

$13.77 $13.77

-35.80%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.71 $5.71

-0.88%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$3.05 $3.05

-12.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.50 $2.50

-33.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.02 $5.02

$7.83 $7.83

-35.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$7.88 $7.88

-8.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.35 $1.35

-17.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$5.06 $5.06

-28.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.39 $5.39

-41.56%

Eggs

$4.99 $4.99

$6.85 $6.85

-27.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 $12.86

$25.07 $25.07

-48.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.62 $14.62

$15.85 $15.85

-7.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.50 $19.50

$20.59 $20.59

-5.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.14 $6.14

2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.82 $2.82

-10.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.51 $5.51

-9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$6.74 $6.74

-3.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.15 $3.15

13.33%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.82 $3.82

11.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.69 $2.69

12.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.64 $2.64

6.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$11.65 $11.65

-13.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$15.69 $15.69

-2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.93 $2.93

-34.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.24 $4.24

-19.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.82 $2.82

-28.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.22 $40.22

$100 $100

-59.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.60 $2.60

36.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.72 $1.72

20.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$30.22 $30.22

0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.19 $1.19

5.04%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$32.7K $32.7K

-16.42%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.03%

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

$287 $287

$263 $263

9.51%

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

$49.26 $49.26

$60.9 $60.9

-19.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 $63.0

$75.9 $75.9

-17.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.92 $41.92

$79.6 $79.6

-47.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.95 $14.95

$39.89 $39.89

-62.52%

Cinema Ticket

$11.07 $11.07

$16.27 $16.27

-31.96%

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

$1,952 $1,952

$2,281 $2,281

-14.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$29.3K $29.3K

-11.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.56 $47.56

$68.6 $68.6

-30.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.84 $39.84

$52.0 $52.0

-23.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$116 $116

-23.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$143 $143

-9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 $1,429

$2,336 $2,336

-38.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,261 $1,261

$1,863 $1,863

-32.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$4,628 $4,628

-47.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,401 $2,401

$3,477 $3,477

-30.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,192 $3,192

$7,766 $7,766

-58.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,184 $3,184

$5,232 $5,232

-39.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,035 $4,035

$6,617 $6,617

-39.01%

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 Modesto, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,429 in Modesto, CA versus $2,336 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 64% 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 $80.0 in Modesto, CA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $547 – making Modesto, 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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Modesto, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,975 per month in Modesto, CA and $5,397 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,650 in Modesto, CA and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 149% less in Modesto, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,650 in Modesto, CA and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Modesto, CA costs $2,650 versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Modesto, 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.