Cost of Living Comparison Between Mountain View, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mountain View, CA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,598 per month in Mountain View, CA vs $3,880 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,493 per month in Mountain View, CA vs $5,820 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,387 per month in Mountain View, CA vs $7,759 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Mountain View, CA costs about 19% more than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mountain View, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Mountain View, CA by 236%, Seattle, WA by 184%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$25.01 $25.01

-19.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$99.9 $99.9

2.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$15.06 $15.06

-20.12%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$6.37 $6.37

-18.37%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$3.08 $3.08

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.00 $3.00

-11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$7.80 $7.80

-12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.20 $10.20

$8.21 $8.21

24.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.21 $1.21

4.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.99 $4.99

-11.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$6.39 $6.39

-26.13%

Eggs

$5.48 $5.48

$5.12 $5.12

7.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$21.05 $21.05

-20.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.86 $11.86

$18.38 $18.38

-35.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.30 $13.30

$24.03 $24.03

-44.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$5.89 $5.89

-7.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.88 $1.88

-8.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.29 $5.29

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$6.47 $6.47

-15.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.68 $3.68

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.36 $3.36

68.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.79 $2.79

-31.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.58 $2.58

5.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.51 $11.51

$13.92 $13.92

-17.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.06 $13.06

$14.99 $14.99

-12.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$4.28 $4.28

-51.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$5.86 $5.86

-58.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.92 $2.92

74.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.57 $2.57

56.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.05 $5.05

$1.72 $1.72

193.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.40 $1.40

0.71%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$36.1K $36.1K

2.98%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

1.74%

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

$295 $295

$299 $299

-1.34%

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

$44.81 $44.81

$69.4 $69.4

-35.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 $63.2

$87.7 $87.7

-27.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.1 $73.1

$80.2 $80.2

-8.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.04 $12.04

$34.93 $34.93

-65.53%

Cinema Ticket

$16.96 $16.96

$17.70 $17.70

-4.18%

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

$2,323 $2,323

$3,020 $3,020

-23.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$31.0K $31.0K

-22.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$77.3 $77.3

-32.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$100 $100

$55.1 $55.1

82.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$152 $152

$128 $128

18.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$159 $159

-6.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,917 $2,917

$2,488 $2,488

17.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,987 $2,987

$1,930 $1,930

54.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,572 $5,572

$4,755 $4,755

17.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,106 $5,106

$3,639 $3,639

40.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K $10.4K

$7,583 $7,583

37.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.1K $10.1K

$5,109 $5,109

98.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,549 $9,549

$6,219 $6,219

53.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.45

-5.43%

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

Last update for Mountain View, CA: September 12, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,917 in Mountain View, CA versus $2,488 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 54% higher in Mountain View, CA, 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 $102 in Mountain View, CA versus $100 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $435 in Mountain View, CA vs $552 in Seattle, WA – so Mountain View, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $4,598 in Mountain View, CA, $3,880 in Seattle, WA – roughly 19% apart. Mountain View, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,897 per month in Mountain View, CA and $5,820 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, WA, 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 $102 in Mountain View, CA and $100 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Mountain View, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,598 in Mountain View, CA and $3,880 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,880 in Seattle, WA to $4,598 in Mountain View, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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