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: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,189 in Downey, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,933 in Downey, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $6,677 in Downey, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 22% more expensive than in Downey, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Downey, CA 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$24.63 $24.63

1.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$99.2 $99.2

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.28 $14.28

5.46%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.65 $5.65

12.74%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.65 $3.65

-15.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.74 $2.74

9.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.91 $7.91

-1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$10.05 $10.05

-18.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.35 $1.35

-10.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.65 $4.65

7.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.44 $6.44

-0.78%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.38 $5.38

-4.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$11.91 $11.91

76.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$14.86 $14.86

23.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.49 $19.49

23.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.58 $5.58

5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.46 $2.46

-23.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.17 $5.17

2.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.86 $5.86

10.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.24 $3.24

13.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.34 $3.34

0.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.00 $2.00

39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.44 $2.44

5.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.50 $11.50

21.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$14.73 $14.73

1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.26 $2.26

89.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.72 $2.72

115.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.94 $2.94

-12.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.89 $1.89

-8.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$31.66 $31.66

-3.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.39 $1.39

0.72%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.9K $36.9K

-2.15%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.63%

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

$299 $299

$249 $249

20.27%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$73.6 $73.6

-5.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$81.1 $81.1

8.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$34.39 $34.39

133.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$13.93 $13.93

27.06%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,448 $1,448

108.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$32.3K $32.3K

-3.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$88.7 $88.7

-12.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$46.28 $46.28

18.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$80.2 $80.2

60.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$168 $168

-4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,975 $1,975

26.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,691 $1,691

14.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,633 $3,633

30.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$3,320 $3,320

9.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$5,687 $5,687

33.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$5,615 $5,615

-9.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,253 $4,253

46.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.5

-0.77%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Downey, CA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,975 in Downey, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 46% 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 $99.0 in Downey, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $468 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 46% 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 $1,975 in Downey, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,189 in Downey, CA – a 22% 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 22% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.