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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 17.3% more expensive than Berkeley, CA without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 1.3% more expensive than Berkeley, CA without rent, and 2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$22.11 $22.11
13.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$100 $100
17.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.34 $11.34
22.05%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.96 $5.96
-2.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.25 $3.25
-9.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.57 $2.57
-2.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.81 $7.81
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$9.18 $9.18
-14.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.51 $1.51
-11.26%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.84 $4.84
2.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$6.4 $6.4
-16.41%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.99 $4.99
38.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$21.54 $21.54
15.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$15.24 $15.24
3.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$23.02 $23.02
-9.47%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.21 $6.21
-2.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.69 $2.69
2.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.94 $4.94
10.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.94 $6.94
-7.06%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.62 $3.62
-14.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.99 $3.99
-7.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.88 $2.88
-3.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.75 $2.75
-8.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$12.23 $12.23
-4.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$17.64 $17.64
-2.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.35 $2.35
25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.25 $3.25
28.92%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.55 $2.55
9.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$86.2 $86.2
17.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.57 $3.57
-24.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.94 $1.94
-14.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$29.55 $29.55
1.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.27 $1.27
-8.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$30.2K $30.2K
10.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$27.1K $27.1K
-2.89%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$220 $220
22.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$48.14 $48.14
28.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$67 $67
12.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$69.7 $69.7
12.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$7.19 $7.19
470.79%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.54 $15.54
2.25%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$2,142 $2,142
4.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$31.7K $31.7K
-8.38%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$67.4 $67.4
3.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$46.74 $46.74
12.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$103 $103
16.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$148 $148
-3.56%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,253 $2,253
5.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,295 $2,295
-20.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,750 $4,750
-1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,897 $3,897
-10.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$8,092 $8,092
-14.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$8,148 $8,148
-35.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Berkeley, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$6,617 $6,617
-2.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.51
-1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Berkeley, CA: October 26, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.