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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $2,587 in Chico, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,861 in Chico, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $5,134 in Chico, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 37% more expensive than Chico, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Chico, CA 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$25.12 $25.12

1.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$58.8 $58.8

106.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$13.04 $13.04

5.90%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.93 $5.93

-1.18%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.63 $2.63

14.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.18 $2.18

10.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.79 $6.79

16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$8.73 $8.73

-6.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.34 $1.34

4.48%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.66 $3.66

33.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.65 $3.65

41.92%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$5.46 $5.46

25.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$12.99 $12.99

91.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$10.78 $10.78

45.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$16.65 $16.65

20.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$5.61 $5.61

7.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.18 $2.18

30.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.96 $3.96

35.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$5.44 $5.44

22.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.51 $4.51

-30.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.39 $3.39

8.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.19 $2.19

27.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.38 $2.38

11.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$7.79 $7.79

45.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$12.14 $12.14

27.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.71 $1.71

67.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$5.42 $5.42

-22.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.99 $2.99

-7.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

$34.43 $34.43

181.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.56 $3.56

-26.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.06 $2.06

-18.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$40.55 $40.55

-26.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.25 $1.25

-8.80%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$24.1K $24.1K

38.75%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.16%

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

$263 $263

$192 $192

36.83%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$52.0 $52.0

17.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$72.7 $72.7

2.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$61.8 $61.8

29.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$14.17 $14.17

11.57%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,846 $1,846

23.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$37.9K $37.9K

-21.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$59.8 $59.8

14.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$31.69 $31.69

64.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$78.5 $78.5

48.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$98.1 $98.1

41.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,431 $1,431

66.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,213 $1,213

54.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,749 $2,749

72.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,259 $2,259

58.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$3,239 $3,239

147.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$3,004 $3,004

73.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$3,879 $3,879

70.70%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Chico, CA: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $1,431 in Chico, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 71% 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 $59.0 in Chico, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $540 vs $415 per month, with Chico, 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 Chico, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chico, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 71% 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: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,431 in Chico, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chico, CA – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,587 in Chico, CA – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Chico, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chico, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chico, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.