Cost of Living Comparison Between Palo Alto, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Palo Alto, CA and Seattle, WA

😐 Solo nomad: Palo Alto, CA is 10.6% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 34.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Palo Alto, CA is 9.6% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 26.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.92 $24.92

$25.11 $25.11

-0.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$111 $111

$118 $118

-5.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$13.84 $13.84

-18.06%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$5.8 $5.8

-1.03%

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

$3.24 $3.24

$2.95 $2.95

9.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.51 $2.51

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 $8.14

$7.81 $7.81

4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.03 $10.03

$7.84 $7.84

27.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.34 $1.34

9.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.98 $4.98

0.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$5.35 $5.35

-40.37%

Eggs

$6.16 $6.16

$6.91 $6.91

-10.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.55 $21.55

$24.8 $24.8

-13.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.78 $14.78

$15.74 $15.74

-6.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.82 $22.82

$20.84 $20.84

9.50%

Apples (1kg)

$6.95 $6.95

$6.05 $6.05

14.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.75 $2.75

-6.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.47 $5.47

-11.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$6.45 $6.45

4.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.11 $3.11

25.08%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.69 $3.69

18.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.9 $2.9

$2.78 $2.78

4.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.52 $2.52

13.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.11 $11.11

$11.64 $11.64

-4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.33 $18.33

$17.15 $17.15

6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.94 $2.94

-22.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.19 $4.19

-20.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.8 $2.8

-8.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.6 $89.6

$101 $101

-11.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.68 $2.68

53.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.65 $1.65

14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.51 $30.51

$30.13 $30.13

1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.16 $1.16

9.48%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$33.3K $33.3K

-10.97%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.21%

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

$225 $225

$271 $271

-17.10%

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

$47.97 $47.97

$61.8 $61.8

-22.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 $68.6

$75.2 $75.2

-8.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

$78.4 $78.4

53.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.88 $19.88

$41.04 $41.04

-51.56%

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$15.89 $15.89

-0.69%

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

$2,710 $2,710

$2,248 $2,248

20.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$45.7K $45.7K

$29K $29K

57.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 $53.2

$69.5 $69.5

-23.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.76 $44.76

$52.5 $52.5

-14.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 $89.3

$120 $120

-25.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$142 $142

-4.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,473 $3,473

$2,376 $2,376

46.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,227 $3,227

$1,829 $1,829

76.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,889 $5,889

$4,702 $4,702

25.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,757 $5,757

$3,474 $3,474

65.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,539 $2,539

$6,928 $6,928

-63.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,123 $2,123

$5,224 $5,224

-59.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$10K $10K

$6,473 $6,473

54.56%

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 Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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