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 $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,076 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,371 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,665 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 18% more than Auburn, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Auburn, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Auburn, CA by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$25.13 $25.13

-0.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$91.5 $91.5

29.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$12.04 $12.04

14.29%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.97 $4.97

17.71%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.55 $2.55

19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.18 $2.18

9.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$4.97 $4.97

59.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.08 $7.08

10.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.21 $1.21

14.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.38 $4.38

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$6.45 $6.45

-19.69%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$3.30 $3.30

102.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$20.82 $20.82

21.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$14.82 $14.82

7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$16.78 $16.78

20.14%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$7.57 $7.57

-18.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.73 $1.73

66.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$6.49 $6.49

-15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$6.12 $6.12

4.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.56 $4.56

-32.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.46 $3.46

9.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.98 $1.98

41.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.20 $2.20

18.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$11.05 $11.05

3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$11.87 $11.87

31.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.41 $1.41

112.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.04 $2.04

107.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.49 $3.49

-23.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.99 $1.99

-14.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$40.19 $40.19

-26.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.30 $1.30

-12.31%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$24.0K $24.0K

38.75%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.4K $24.4K

8.73%

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

$261 $261

$279 $279

-6.41%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$49.93 $49.93

20.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$72.4 $72.4

4.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$66.2 $66.2

19.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.60 $14.60

8.36%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$2,790 $2,790

-20.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$5,957 $5,957

400.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$53.2 $53.2

31.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$40.04 $40.04

29.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$65.0 $65.0

79.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$124 $124

12.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,839 $1,839

26.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,602 $1,602

16.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,781 $2,781

70.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,303 $2,303

54.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$3,209 $3,209

138.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,713 $2,713

85.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,002 $4,002

62.80%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Auburn, CA: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,839 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 63% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $92.0 in Auburn, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $476 – 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: $3,621 in Seattle, WA, $3,076 in Auburn, CA – roughly 18% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,613 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $3,076 in Auburn, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,790 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 $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $3,076 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 $3,076 in Auburn, CA to $3,621 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.