Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Redwood City, CA and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,048 in Redwood City, CA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,886 in Redwood City, CA versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,725 in Redwood City, CA versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Redwood City, CA is roughly 13% more expensive than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Redwood City, CA 202% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.01 $27.01

$24.80 $24.80

8.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$118 $118

-14.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.57 $14.57

$13.77 $13.77

5.81%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$5.71 $5.71

-12.96%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$3.05 $3.05

-15.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.50 $2.50

-13.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.83 $7.83

-23.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$7.88 $7.88

-10.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.35 $1.35

8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 $2.40

$5.06 $5.06

-52.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.39 $5.39

4.64%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$6.85 $6.85

-29.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.82 $7.82

$25.07 $25.07

-68.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$15.85 $15.85

-5.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.75 $16.75

$20.59 $20.59

-18.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$6.14 $6.14

5.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.82 $2.82

-21.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.51 $5.51

-33.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$6.74 $6.74

-53.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.15 $3.15

-24.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.82 $3.82

-8.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.69 $2.69

-17.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.64 $2.64

13.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 $8.87

$11.65 $11.65

-23.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 $12.11

$15.69 $15.69

-22.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.93 $2.93

-42.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.24 $4.24

-6.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.20 $7.20

$2.82 $2.82

155.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$100 $100

-25.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.60 $2.60

31.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.72 $1.72

8.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.09 $40.09

$30.22 $30.22

32.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.19 $1.19

1.68%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$32.7K $32.7K

-25.64%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.46%

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

$193 $193

$263 $263

-26.54%

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

$50.4 $50.4

$60.9 $60.9

-17.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 $72.3

$75.9 $75.9

-4.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$179 $179

$79.6 $79.6

125.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.65 $14.65

$16.27 $16.27

-9.96%

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

$2,698 $2,698

$2,281 $2,281

18.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.2K $38.2K

$29.3K $29.3K

30.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 $59.9

$68.6 $68.6

-12.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 $60.3

$52.0 $52.0

16.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 $89.3

$116 $116

-22.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$143 $143

-30.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,174 $4,174

$2,336 $2,336

78.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 $2,503

$1,863 $1,863

34.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,455 $5,455

$4,628 $4,628

17.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,227 $4,227

$3,477 $3,477

21.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,032 $8,032

$6,617 $6,617

21.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.42

2.02%

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

Last update for Redwood City, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,174 in Redwood City, CA and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Redwood City, CA vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $547 per month, with Redwood City, CA 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

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

Redwood City, CA and Seattle, WA differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($4,048 vs $3,598 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Redwood City, CA pays 21% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,174 in Redwood City, CA versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Redwood City, CA pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $118 versus $100 in Redwood City, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA 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.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.