Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Foster City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Foster City, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 28.6% more expensive than Foster City, CA without rent, and 10.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 18.2% more expensive than Foster City, CA without rent, and 1.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$15.05 $15.05
66.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$69.5 $69.5
70.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.1 $11.1
24.68%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$4.94 $4.94
17.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.33 $3.33
-11.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.5 $2.5
0.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$9.2 $9.2
-15.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$10.89 $10.89
-28.01%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.05 $1.05
27.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.33 $3.33
49.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$2.24 $2.24
138.84%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.06 $3.06
125.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$16.24 $16.24
52.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$11.23 $11.23
40.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$20.13 $20.13
3.53%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.21 $6.21
-2.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.47 $2.47
11.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.75 $4.75
15.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$3.25 $3.25
98.46%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.34 $3.34
-6.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.36 $4.36
-15.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.03 $3.03
-8.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.46 $1.46
72.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.38 $11.38
2.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$11.99 $11.99
43.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.33 $2.33
26.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.31 $3.31
26.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.64 $3.64
-23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$191 $191
-47.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.54 $3.54
-24.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.85 $1.85
-10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$30.16 $30.16
-0.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.28 $1.28
-9.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$29.9K $29.9K
11.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.5K $26.5K
-0.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$270 $270
0.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$49.14 $49.14
25.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$68.9 $68.9
9.05%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$42.62 $42.62
84.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.35 $15.35
3.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,978 $1,978
13.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$26.4K $26.4K
9.86%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$46.18 $46.18
50.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$29.75 $29.75
76.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$65.7 $65.7
81.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$49.86 $49.86
185.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$3,056 $3,056
-22.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,558 $2,558
-28.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,515 $4,515
4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$4,522 $4,522
-23.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$10.8K $10.8K
-35.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$9,784 $9,784
-46.61%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Foster City, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$7,087 $7,087
-8.67%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Foster City, CA: October 27, 2025

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