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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,252 in Cerritos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,430 in Cerritos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,607 in Cerritos, CA, rent included.

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

Both Seattle, WA and Cerritos, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Cerritos, CA by 137%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$25.25 $25.25

-2.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$98.7 $98.7

0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$14.84 $14.84

1.68%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.67 $5.67

16.75%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.73 $3.73

-16.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.95 $2.95

1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.79 $7.79

4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$11.89 $11.89

-33.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.40 $1.40

-16.43%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.71 $4.71

10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.99 $4.99

28.26%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.84 $5.84

-15.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$12.06 $12.06

77.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$14.71 $14.71

26.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$19.42 $19.42

18.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.35 $5.35

8.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.39 $3.39

-44.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.18 $5.18

3.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.43 $6.43

-2.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.42 $3.42

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.83 $2.83

15.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.02 $2.02

42.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.43 $2.43

11.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.59 $11.59

22.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$16.13 $16.13

-6.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.28 $2.28

91.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.71 $2.71

112.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.88 $2.88

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.88 $1.88

-12.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$32.19 $32.19

-7.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.45 $1.45

-4.83%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.5K $37.5K

-2.87%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.00%

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

$296 $296

$256 $256

15.84%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$74.7 $74.7

-4.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$79.4 $79.4

10.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$119 $119

-31.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$19.71 $19.71

-7.00%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,421 $1,421

115.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$32.1K $32.1K

-4.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$85.9 $85.9

-10.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$46.70 $46.70

15.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$111 $111

15.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$85.5 $85.5

92.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,971 $1,971

22.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,608 $1,608

20.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,643 $3,643

30.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.24

2.88%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cerritos, CA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,971 in Cerritos, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $99.0 in Cerritos, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $554 in Seattle, WA vs $475 in Cerritos, CA – so Cerritos, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cerritos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA, $3,252 in Cerritos, 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 $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,879 in Cerritos, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA and $99.0 in Cerritos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $3,252 in Cerritos, 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 $3,252 in Cerritos, CA to $3,836 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cerritos, 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.