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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,787 in Colton, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,605 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,027 in Colton, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,645 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,266 in Colton, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 28% more than Colton, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Colton, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 167%, Colton, CA by 109%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$18.18 $18.18

36.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$80.2 $80.2

48.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$13.55 $13.55

4.43%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.26 $5.26

8.56%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.03 $3.03

-3.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.03 $2.03

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.35 $7.35

7.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.09 $8.09

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.16 $1.16

17.24%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.93 $3.93

29.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.24 $4.24

23.82%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.54 $4.54

52.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$10.91 $10.91

128.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$16.06 $16.06

-1.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$15.38 $15.38

34.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.54 $4.54

36.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.76 $1.76

58.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.31 $5.31

3.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.51 $5.51

16.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.20 $3.20

-1.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.83 $2.83

37.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.94 $1.94

39.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.20 $2.20

15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.96 $10.96

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.27 $14.27

9.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.54 $2.54

12.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.73 $3.73

14.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.03 $2.03

33.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$78.6 $78.6

25.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$6.18 $6.18

-58.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.71 $1.71

-4.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.31 $29.31

1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.25 $1.25

-8.80%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

28.34%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

-10.21%

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

$264 $264

$270 $270

-2.17%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$54.4 $54.4

13.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$60.4 $60.4

24.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$42.25 $42.25

84.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.28 $15.28

5.43%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,190 $1,190

85.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

22.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$55.7 $55.7

24.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.89 $34.89

54.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$101 $101

17.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$100 $100

41.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,917 $1,917

22.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,344 $1,344

36.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,655 $2,655

76.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,198 $2,198

62.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$9,926 $9,926

-24.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$8,312 $8,312

-22.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Colton, CA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,917 in Colton, 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 28% higher in Colton, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $80.0 in Colton, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $425 – making Colton, 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 Colton, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 28% more than Colton, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,347 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,181 in Colton, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Colton, 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 $119 in Seattle, WA and $80.0 in Colton, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,787 in Colton, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,565 in Seattle, WA and $2,787 in Colton, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Colton, CA costs $2,787 versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Colton, 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.