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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,088 in Concord, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,585 in Concord, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $6,083 in Concord, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 26% more expensive than in Concord, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Concord, CA 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$22.15 $22.15

12.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$79.2 $79.2

26.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.92 $14.92

0.94%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.96 $5.96

6.88%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.25 $3.25

-5.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.57 $2.57

16.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.95 $8.95

-12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.91 $7.91

3.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.27 $1.27

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.33 $4.33

15.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.89 $4.89

30.67%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.52 $5.52

-7.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$24.86 $24.86

-15.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$11.67 $11.67

57.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$13.35 $13.35

80.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.54 $5.54

6.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.61 $2.61

-27.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.88 $4.88

8.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.94 $5.94

8.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.37 $3.37

9.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$4.00 $4.00

-16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.45 $2.45

13.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.65 $2.65

-2.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$7.65 $7.65

81.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$13.02 $13.02

15.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.08 $2.08

105.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.55 $2.55

129.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.47 $2.47

18.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$61.0 $61.0

78.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.54 $3.54

-27.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.83 $1.83

-6.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$40.33 $40.33

-24.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.44 $1.44

-2.78%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$30.6K $30.6K

17.96%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.4K $26.4K

-3.42%

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

$299 $299

$138 $138

116.25%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$42.77 $42.77

62.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$61.9 $61.9

41.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$101 $101

-20.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.94 $14.94

18.47%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$2,254 $2,254

33.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

27.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$51.4 $51.4

50.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$39.95 $39.95

37.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$73.8 $73.8

73.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$61.1 $61.1

160.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,268 $2,268

9.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,712 $1,712

12.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,460 $3,460

37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,949 $2,949

23.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,814 $4,814

29.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Concord, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,268 in Concord, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 29% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in Concord, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $464 per month, with Concord, 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 Concord, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Concord, CA differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $3,088 including rent). Concord, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $2,268 in Concord, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Concord, CA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $100 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,088 in Concord, CA – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Concord, 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 Concord, 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 Concord, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.