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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,601 in Delano, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,769 in Delano, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,938 in Delano, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 36% more than Delano, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Delano, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 165%, Delano, CA by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$18.70 $18.70

35.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$75.6 $75.6

60.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$11.18 $11.18

23.52%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.94 $4.94

18.62%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.61 $2.61

14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.06 $2.06

16.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.02 $6.02

31.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.12 $7.12

15.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.04 $1.04

34.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.57 $3.57

37.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.26 $4.26

21.60%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.10 $4.10

67.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$12.44 $12.44

100.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$11.44 $11.44

37.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$15.48 $15.48

29.97%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.88 $4.88

23.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.65 $1.65

72.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.32 $4.32

24.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$4.74 $4.74

40.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.89 $2.89

8.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.88 $2.88

28.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.00 $2.00

39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.09 $2.09

26.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$9.34 $9.34

21.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$14.11 $14.11

10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.29 $3.29

27.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.95 $1.95

42.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.49 $3.49

-25.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.66 $1.66

0.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$29.34 $29.34

1.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

13.36%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.10%

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

$263 $263

$191 $191

37.51%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$52.4 $52.4

16.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$67.4 $67.4

10.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$43.37 $43.37

83.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$13.34 $13.34

18.52%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,320 $1,320

73.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

28.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$51.5 $51.5

32.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$39.28 $39.28

32.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$87.5 $87.5

33.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$111 $111

25.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,580 $1,580

50.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,377 $1,377

36.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,655 $2,655

79.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,181 $2,181

63.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$2,805 $2,805

186.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$2,432 $2,432

113.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Delano, CA: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,580 in Delano, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Seattle, WA versus $76.0 in Delano, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $387 – making Delano, 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 Delano, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,901 in Delano, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Delano, 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 $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $2,601 in Delano, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,289 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,320 in Delano, 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 $3,533 in Seattle, WA and $2,601 in Delano, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

If budget matters most, go with Delano, 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.