😐A single person spends $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,198 in Davis, CA, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,632 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,580 in Davis, CA, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,681 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,962 in Davis, CA, rent included.
😐Seattle, WA costs about 12% more than Davis, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Seattle, WA and Davis, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 168%, Davis, CA by 139%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.97$24.97
$15.17$15.17
64.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119$119
$65.4$65.4
82.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.90$13.90
$12.10$12.10
14.88%
Cappuccino
$5.56$5.56
$4.83$4.83
15.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06$3.06
$3.36$3.36
-8.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$2.37$2.37
4.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.96$7.96
$7.96$7.96
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01$8.01
$7.92$7.92
1.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34$1.34
$1.21$1.21
10.74%
White Bread(500g)
$5.05$5.05
$4.20$4.20
20.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$3.33$3.33
60.96%
Eggs
$6.59$6.59
$5.11$5.11
28.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.31$25.31
$12.52$12.52
102.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.19$16.19
$11.67$11.67
38.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.30$20.30
$24.93$24.93
-18.57%
Apples(1kg)
$5.97$5.97
$4.68$4.68
27.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$2.80$2.80
-2.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$6.23$6.23
-13.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.61$6.61
$4.69$4.69
40.94%
Potato(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$3.97$3.97
-18.14%
Onion(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$3.56$3.56
6.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73$2.73
$2.57$2.57
6.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$3.43$3.43
-26.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.31$11.31
$10.04$10.04
12.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.28$16.28
$12.08$12.08
34.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85$2.85
$1.80$1.80
58.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16$4.16
$7.95$7.95
-47.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.69$2.69
$1.24$1.24
116.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.1$97.1
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71$2.71
$3.42$3.42
-20.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73$1.73
$1.60$1.60
8.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.46$29.46
$29.06$29.06
1.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.23$1.23
-2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K$33.6K
$27.7K$27.7K
21.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$24.0K$24.0K
8.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266$266
$235$235
13.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4$60.4
$52.5$52.5
15.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2$76.2
$69.6$69.6
9.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.2$79.2
$42.53$42.53
86.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.51$40.51
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.22$16.22
$12.08$12.08
34.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,280$2,280
$1,482$1,482
53.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.6K$29.6K
$23.2K$23.2K
27.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6$69.6
$48.74$48.74
42.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6$52.6
$38.10$38.10
37.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120$120
$95.1$95.1
25.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143$143
$137$137
4.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,378$2,378
$2,191$2,191
8.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,866$1,866
$1,901$1,901
-1.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,724$4,724
$3,400$3,400
38.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,510$3,510
$3,149$3,149
11.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,711$7,711
$2,656$2,656
190.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,381$5,381
$2,354$2,354
128.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,493$6,493
$4,888$4,888
32.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.36
0.94%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Davis, CA: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $2,191 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 33% 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 $65.0 in Davis, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $467 – making Davis, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Seattle, WA vs Davis, CA: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Davis, CA cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,374 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,797 in Davis, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Seattle, WA vs Davis, CA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $3,198 in Davis, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,280 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,482 in Davis, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Seattle, WA or Davis, CA?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,583 in Seattle, WA and $3,198 in Davis, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Seattle, WA or Davis, CA more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Seattle, WA or Davis, CA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.
Seattle, WA vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado