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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,783 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $4,148 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $5,513 in Brentwood, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 32% more expensive than Brentwood, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Brentwood, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$29.75 $29.75

-14.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$111 $111

8.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$13.90 $13.90

1.51%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$6.21 $6.21

-6.28%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.64 $3.64

-18.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.42 $3.42

-29.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$9.08 $9.08

-14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.78 $8.78

-10.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.31 $1.31

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.69 $4.69

4.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.21 $3.21

60.12%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$5.42 $5.42

21.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$11.12 $11.12

121.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$10.89 $10.89

45.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$12.64 $12.64

59.34%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.69 $4.69

33.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.23 $2.23

28.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.34 $4.34

21.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.97 $4.97

28.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.98 $2.98

7.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.50 $3.50

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.78 $2.78

-1.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.64 $2.64

-2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$8.53 $8.53

36.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.71 $14.71

7.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.14 $2.14

34.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.36 $2.36

86.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.06 $2.06

33.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.45 $4.45

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.88 $1.88

-9.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.60 $29.60

0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.20 $1.20

-5.00%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

11.02%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K $27.0K

-3.86%

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

$268 $268

$218 $218

22.76%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$39.11 $39.11

55.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$62.9 $62.9

21.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.67 $43.67

78.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$18.18 $18.18

-12.98%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,153 $1,153

95.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$24.3K $24.3K

22.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$44.85 $44.85

57.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.26 $40.26

31.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$78.4 $78.4

49.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$80.6 $80.6

72.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,611 $1,611

43.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,372 $1,372

34.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$3,902 $3,902

21.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,220 $2,220

60.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,987 $2,987

160.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,107 $2,107

153.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$5,001 $5,001

31.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.67

-3.75%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,611 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $111 in Brentwood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $403 per month, with Brentwood, CA cheaper across the board.

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 Brentwood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Brentwood, CA differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $2,783 including rent). Brentwood, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 31% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,611 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,783 in Brentwood, CA – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Brentwood, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Brentwood, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Brentwood, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.