Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 5.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 21.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 5.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.3 $20.3

$25.11 $25.11

-19.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$118 $118

-15.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.54 $11.54

$13.84 $13.84

-16.62%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.8 $5.8

-0.17%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.95 $2.95

9.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.51 $2.51

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.8 $8.8

$7.81 $7.81

12.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.92 $10.92

$7.84 $7.84

39.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.34 $1.34

8.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.98 $4.98

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$5.35 $5.35

-40.37%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$6.91 $6.91

-29.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.13 $21.13

$24.8 $24.8

-14.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.74 $15.74

-3.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.45 $22.45

$20.84 $20.84

7.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.05 $6.05

0.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.75 $2.75

-10.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.47 $5.47

-12.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$6.45 $6.45

4.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.11 $3.11

10.61%

Onion (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.69 $3.69

15.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.78 $2.78

6.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.52 $2.52

9.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.32 $11.32

$11.64 $11.64

-2.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$17.15 $17.15

-12.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.94 $2.94

-20.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.19 $4.19

-20.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.8 $2.8

-9.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89 $89

$101 $101

-11.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.68 $2.68

27.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.65 $1.65

14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.82 $29.82

$30.13 $30.13

-1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.16 $1.16

12.93%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$33.3K $33.3K

-9.42%

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

$27K $27K

$26.3K $26.3K

2.78%

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

$292 $292

$271 $271

7.92%

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

$49.13 $49.13

$61.8 $61.8

-20.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$75.2 $75.2

-9.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$78.4 $78.4

55.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.12 $30.12

$41.04 $41.04

-26.61%

Cinema Ticket

$15.45 $15.45

$15.89 $15.89

-2.77%

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

$1,985 $1,985

$2,248 $2,248

-11.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.2K $26.2K

$29K $29K

-9.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$69.5 $69.5

-24.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.85 $43.85

$52.5 $52.5

-16.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 $89.8

$120 $120

-24.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$142 $142

-2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,022 $3,022

$2,376 $2,376

27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,672 $2,672

$1,829 $1,829

46.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,283 $5,283

$4,702 $4,702

12.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,622 $4,622

$3,474 $3,474

33.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$6,928 $6,928

52.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,587 $9,587

$5,224 $5,224

83.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,864 $5,864

$6,473 $6,473

-9.40%

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 San Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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