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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,933 in Downey, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $4,507 in Downey, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $6,081 in Downey, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 24% more expensive than Downey, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Downey, CA 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$20.29 $20.29

22.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$86.7 $86.7

36.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$14.58 $14.58

-5.49%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.14 $5.14

9.14%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.75 $2.75

5.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.05 $2.05

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$7.18 $7.18

10.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.78 $7.78

5.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.08 $1.08

28.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.10 $4.10

18.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.71 $4.71

9.55%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$4.79 $4.79

38.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$10.78 $10.78

132.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$13.38 $13.38

17.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$14.37 $14.37

41.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$3.56 $3.56

75.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.65 $1.65

66.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.08 $4.08

30.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.72 $5.72

13.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.15 $3.15

-1.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.15 $3.15

22.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.46 $1.46

88.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.14 $2.14

19.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$11.10 $11.10

2.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.15 $15.15

2.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.92 $1.92

47.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.54 $3.54

19.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$6.57 $6.57

-60.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$28.93 $28.93

4.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.23 $1.23

-6.50%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$24.0K $24.0K

38.89%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$23.8K $23.8K

11.29%

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

$263 $263

$160 $160

64.72%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$47.14 $47.14

27.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$60.9 $60.9

22.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$35.12 $35.12

129.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$13.98 $13.98

13.81%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,206 $1,206

89.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$57.0 $57.0

22.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$34.74 $34.74

54.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$83.7 $83.7

42.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$101 $101

40.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,810 $1,810

27.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,708 $1,708

7.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$3,759 $3,759

24.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$3,366 $3,366

3.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$5,593 $5,593

45.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$5,787 $5,787

-10.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$4,146 $4,146

58.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.64

-3.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Downey, CA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,810 in Downey, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 58% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $87.0 in Downey, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $399 per month, with Downey, 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 Downey, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Downey, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 58% more on average, 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,810 in Downey, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,933 in Downey, CA – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Downey, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Downey, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Downey, 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 Downey, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.