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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,274 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,678 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,083 in Davis, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 11% more than Davis, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Davis, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Davis, CA by 144%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$14.71 $14.71

68.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$65.8 $65.8

80.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.85 $11.85

16.29%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.80 $4.80

16.88%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$3.35 $3.35

-13.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.36 $2.36

4.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$8.03 $8.03

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.08 $8.08

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.27 $1.27

9.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.05 $4.05

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.42 $3.42

50.88%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$5.23 $5.23

26.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$12.45 $12.45

101.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.56 $11.56

36.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$24.62 $24.62

-17.47%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.54 $4.54

37.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.80 $2.80

-2.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$6.22 $6.22

-14.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.84 $4.84

34.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.82 $3.82

-19.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.50 $3.50

10.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.56 $2.56

7.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.52 $3.52

-27.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$9.91 $9.91

14.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$13.89 $13.89

11.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.77 $1.77

60.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$8.12 $8.12

-47.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.22 $1.22

120.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.52 $3.52

-26.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.59 $1.59

8.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.77 $29.77

1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.22 $1.22

-5.74%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$28.1K $28.1K

18.61%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.1K $24.1K

9.85%

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

$263 $263

$234 $234

12.69%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$51.9 $51.9

15.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$70.3 $70.3

5.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.58 $42.58

89.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$11.77 $11.77

35.17%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,487 $1,487

53.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

27.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$49.40 $49.40

41.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$37.88 $37.88

42.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$98.0 $98.0

21.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$137 $137

4.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$2,156 $2,156

7.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,888 $1,888

-3.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$3,415 $3,415

37.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$3,213 $3,213

8.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,740 $2,740

197.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,401 $2,401

116.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$5,019 $5,019

30.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.36

0.94%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Davis, CA: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $2,156 in Davis, 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 31% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Seattle, WA versus $66.0 in Davis, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $469 – making Davis, 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 Davis, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,911 in Davis, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $3,274 in Davis, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,281 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,487 in Davis, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $3,274 in Davis, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Davis, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Davis, 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.