Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaluma, CA and Longmont, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaluma, CA and Longmont, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,127 in Petaluma, CA versus $3,050 in Longmont, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,778 in Petaluma, CA versus $4,563 in Longmont, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,429 in Petaluma, CA versus $6,077 in Longmont, CO.

Living in Petaluma, CA is roughly 35% more expensive than in Longmont, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Petaluma, CA 200% above, Longmont, CO 122% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.42 $27.42

$19.99 $19.99

37.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$81.1 $81.1

11.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$10.53 $10.53

15.57%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.72 $5.72

-6.12%

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

$3.47 $3.47

$3.19 $3.19

8.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.42 $2.42

32.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$7.10 $7.10

11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$7.93 $7.93

-1.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.03 $1.03

36.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.22 $5.22

-17.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.13 $4.13

14.53%

Eggs

$5.34 $5.34

$6.16 $6.16

-13.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$14.17 $14.17

45.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.30 $16.30

$13.61 $13.61

19.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$19.75 $19.75

-0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$5.55 $5.55

22.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.52 $1.52

48.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.47 $4.47

40.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$4.70 $4.70

25.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.39 $2.39

56.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.46 $3.46

-11.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.37 $2.37

29.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.29 $2.29

18.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.05 $12.05

$10.02 $10.02

20.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.94 $11.94

$17.27 $17.27

-30.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.44 $2.44

-30.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.44 $2.44

-5.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$276 $276

$84.0 $84.0

229.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.45 $2.45

31.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.36 $1.36

42.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.85 $28.85

$24.09 $24.09

19.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.90 $0.90

55.56%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$34.9K $34.9K

4.00%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.32%

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

$191 $191

$207 $207

-7.46%

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

$50.6 $50.6

$52.3 $52.3

-3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$74.4 $74.4

-6.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 $124

$39.64 $39.64

212.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.6 $65.6

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$15.20 $15.20

-7.43%

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

$1,605 $1,605

$1,612 $1,612

-0.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.9K $37.9K

$24.4K $24.4K

55.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$58.9 $58.9

-5.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 $55.7

$49.19 $49.19

13.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$83.3 $83.3

30.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$101 $101

27.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,428 $2,428

$1,678 $1,678

44.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,282 $2,282

$1,548 $1,548

47.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,628 $3,628

$2,926 $2,926

24.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,478 $3,478

$2,791 $2,791

24.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,760 $3,760

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,977 $2,977

$4,428 $4,428

-32.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

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

Last update for Petaluma, CA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Longmont, CO: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,428 in Petaluma, CA and $1,678 in Longmont, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Longmont, CO pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $90.0 in Petaluma, CA vs $81.0 in Longmont, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $500 vs $454 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

Petaluma, CA vs Longmont, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Petaluma, CA and Longmont, CO differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($4,127 vs $3,050 including rent). Longmont, CO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Longmont, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,428 in Petaluma, CA versus $1,678 in Longmont, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,127 per month in Petaluma, CA versus $3,050 in Longmont, CO – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Longmont, CO runs roughly 229% less than in Petaluma, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Longmont, CO 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, Petaluma, CA and Longmont, CO 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 Longmont, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Petaluma, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.