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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Mateo, CA is 24.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 23.1% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Mateo, CA is 9% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 15.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.55 $20.55

$25.11 $25.11

-18.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.3 $65.3

$118 $118

-44.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 $11.69

$13.84 $13.84

-15.53%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$5.8 $5.8

-12.76%

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

$3.17 $3.17

$2.95 $2.95

7.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.51 $2.51

-2.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.81 $7.81

-10.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$7.84 $7.84

25.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.34 $1.34

11.19%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.98 $4.98

-0.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.35 $5.35

-37.94%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$6.91 $6.91

-30.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$24.8 $24.8

-41.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 $15.34

$15.74 $15.74

-2.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.18 $22.18

$20.84 $20.84

6.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$6.05 $6.05

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.75 $2.75

-20.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5 $5

$5.47 $5.47

-8.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.45 $6.45

0.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$3.11 $3.11

15.76%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.69 $3.69

20.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.78 $2.78

-1.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.52 $2.52

8.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.16 $11.16

$11.64 $11.64

-4.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 $13.76

$17.15 $17.15

-19.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.94 $2.94

-39.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.19 $4.19

-18.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.8 $2.8

56.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.5 $66.5

$101 $101

-34.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.68 $2.68

32.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.65 $1.65

16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.31 $30.31

$30.13 $30.13

0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.16 $1.16

6.90%

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

$30K $30K

$33.3K $33.3K

-10.01%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

0.10%

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

$257 $257

$271 $271

-4.99%

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

$47.84 $47.84

$61.8 $61.8

-22.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$75.2 $75.2

-15.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.4 $94.4

$78.4 $78.4

20.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.8 $15.8

$15.89 $15.89

-0.57%

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

$1,987 $1,987

$2,248 $2,248

-11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26K $26K

$29K $29K

-10.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$69.5 $69.5

-22.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.65 $29.65

$52.5 $52.5

-43.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$120 $120

-27.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$142 $142

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,376 $2,376

17.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,869 $2,869

$1,829 $1,829

56.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,762 $5,762

$4,702 $4,702

22.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,478 $5,478

$3,474 $3,474

57.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,115 $3,115

$6,928 $6,928

-55.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,308 $2,308

$5,224 $5,224

-55.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,443 $7,443

$6,473 $6,473

14.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.42

-1.56%

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

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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