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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,957 in Fairfield, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $5,296 in Fairfield, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $6,635 in Fairfield, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 2% less than in Fairfield, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Fairfield, CA 189% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$22.40 $22.40

11.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$96.7 $96.7

3.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.96 $11.96

25.92%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$6.46 $6.46

-1.39%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.37 $3.37

-8.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.97 $1.97

52.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.94 $7.94

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.08 $7.08

15.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.45 $1.45

-16.55%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.41 $4.41

13.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.66 $4.66

37.12%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.48 $5.48

-6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$14.14 $14.14

48.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$14.56 $14.56

26.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$17.37 $17.37

38.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.82 $5.82

1.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.66 $2.66

-29.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$6.16 $6.16

-14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.80 $6.80

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.79 $3.79

-2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.69 $3.69

-8.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.33 $2.33

19.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.02 $2.02

27.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$12.06 $12.06

15.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$10.14 $10.14

47.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.88 $1.88

127.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.04 $2.04

187.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.94 $1.94

50.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$88.6 $88.6

22.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.93 $2.93

-12.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.89 $1.89

-8.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$28.95 $28.95

5.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.29 $1.29

8.53%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.6K $34.6K

4.41%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.9K $26.9K

-5.12%

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

$299 $299

$190 $190

57.84%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$50.3 $50.3

38.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$73.4 $73.4

19.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$125 $125

-35.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$74.2 $74.2

-52.91%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.72 $14.72

20.24%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,294 $1,294

133.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$19.8K $19.8K

56.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$53.5 $53.5

44.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$41.50 $41.50

32.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$107 $107

19.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$111 $111

43.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,449 $2,449

1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$2,369 $2,369

-18.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,017 $3,017

57.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,917 $2,917

24.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$3,630 $3,630

108.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$3,677 $3,677

38.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$4,851 $4,851

28.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fairfield, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,449 in Fairfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $97.0 in Fairfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $456 per month, with Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Fairfield, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Seattle, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 28% 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 $2,449 in Fairfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,957 in Fairfield, CA – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Seattle, WA runs roughly 23% less than in Fairfield, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

Both work as nomad bases, but Seattle, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,880 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Seattle, WA hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Fairfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.