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 $3,912 per month in Mountain View, CA vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,210 per month in Mountain View, CA vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,508 per month in Mountain View, CA vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Mountain View, CA costs about 9% 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 192%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$24.80 $24.80

-20.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$118 $118

-13.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$13.77 $13.77

-27.02%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$5.71 $5.71

-3.50%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$3.05 $3.05

-15.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.50 $2.50

-5.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$7.83 $7.83

-13.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$7.88 $7.88

24.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.35 $1.35

-8.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.06 $5.06

-11.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.39 $5.39

-38.96%

Eggs

$4.81 $4.81

$6.85 $6.85

-29.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$25.07 $25.07

-34.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 $15.34

$15.85 $15.85

-3.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.34 $21.34

$20.59 $20.59

3.64%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.14 $6.14

-1.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.82 $2.82

-40.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.51 $5.51

-21.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$6.74 $6.74

-18.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.15 $3.15

13.02%

Onion (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.82 $3.82

15.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.69 $2.69

-31.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.64 $2.64

4.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 $10.05

$11.65 $11.65

-13.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 $12.85

$15.69 $15.69

-18.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.93 $2.93

-29.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.24 $4.24

-39.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.82 $2.82

-1.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.8 $91.8

$100 $100

-8.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.60 $2.60

33.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.72 $1.72

50.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.48 $29.48

$30.22 $30.22

-2.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.19 $1.19

7.56%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$32.7K $32.7K

-6.66%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.06%

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

$277 $277

$263 $263

5.58%

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

$48.35 $48.35

$60.9 $60.9

-20.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$75.9 $75.9

-12.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 $55.8

$79.6 $79.6

-29.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 $11.97

$39.89 $39.89

-69.99%

Cinema Ticket

$15.72 $15.72

$16.27 $16.27

-3.38%

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

$1,835 $1,835

$2,281 $2,281

-19.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$29.3K $29.3K

-11.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$68.6 $68.6

-22.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.99 $44.99

$52.0 $52.0

-13.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 $88.3

$116 $116

-23.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$143 $143

-5.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,811 $2,811

$2,336 $2,336

20.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,438 $2,438

$1,863 $1,863

30.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,207 $5,207

$4,628 $4,628

12.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,073 $5,073

$3,477 $3,477

45.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K $10.4K

$7,766 $7,766

33.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.1K $10.1K

$5,232 $5,232

92.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,440 $9,440

$6,617 $6,617

42.67%

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 Mountain View, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,811 in Mountain View, 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 43% 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 $101 in Mountain View, CA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $466 vs $547 – making Mountain View, 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

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

Mountain View, CA costs about 9% more than Seattle, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,867 per month in Mountain View, 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 Seattle, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,835 per month in Mountain View, CA and $2,281 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 $3,912 in Mountain View, CA and $3,598 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 $3,598 in Seattle, WA to $3,912 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.