Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Auburn, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Auburn, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,054 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,632 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,288 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,681 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,523 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 17% more than Auburn, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Auburn, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Auburn, CA by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$25.28 $25.28

-1.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$89.2 $89.2

33.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$12.20 $12.20

13.93%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.94 $4.94

12.55%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.65 $2.65

15.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.18 $2.18

13.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.07 $5.07

57.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.73 $6.73

19.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.24 $1.24

8.06%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.44 $4.44

13.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$6.14 $6.14

-12.70%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.34 $3.34

97.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$21.05 $21.05

20.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$15.05 $15.05

7.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$16.71 $16.71

21.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$7.64 $7.64

-21.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.70 $1.70

61.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$6.57 $6.57

-18.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$6.09 $6.09

8.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$4.62 $4.62

-29.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.47 $3.47

9.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.98 $1.98

37.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.19 $2.19

15.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.98 $10.98

3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$12.09 $12.09

34.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.46 $1.46

95.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$1.96 $1.96

112.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.46 $3.46

-21.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.05 $2.05

-15.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$39.91 $39.91

-26.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.30 $1.30

-7.69%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$24.0K $24.0K

39.79%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.81%

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

$266 $266

$272 $272

-2.18%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$49.71 $49.71

21.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$72.0 $72.0

5.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$64.8 $64.8

22.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$14.53 $14.53

11.63%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$2,774 $2,774

-17.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$6,080 $6,080

386.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$54.1 $54.1

28.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$40.52 $40.52

29.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$66.2 $66.2

80.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$126 $126

13.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,816 $1,816

30.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,566 $1,566

19.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,751 $2,751

71.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,292 $2,292

53.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$3,299 $3,299

133.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,658 $2,658

102.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$3,944 $3,944

64.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Auburn, CA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,816 in Auburn, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 65% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $89.0 in Auburn, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $479 – making Auburn, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA, $3,054 in Auburn, CA – roughly 17% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,374 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,581 in Auburn, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Auburn, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $3,054 in Auburn, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,280 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,774 in Auburn, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $3,054 in Auburn, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,054 in Auburn, CA to $3,583 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Auburn, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.