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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $4,222 in Glendale, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $5,634 in Glendale, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $7,046 in Glendale, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 8% less than in Glendale, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Glendale, CA 209% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$25.46 $25.46

-1.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$97.6 $97.6

2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.45 $13.45

11.97%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.82 $5.82

9.45%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.02 $3.02

1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.71 $2.71

10.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.06 $8.06

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$10.04 $10.04

-18.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.31 $1.31

-7.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.90 $4.90

1.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.87 $4.87

31.21%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.76 $5.76

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$11.97 $11.97

75.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.26 $13.26

38.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.46 $19.46

23.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.77 $4.77

23.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.90 $1.90

-1.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.55 $4.55

16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.20 $5.20

24.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.25 $3.25

13.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.62 $2.62

28.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.00 $2.00

39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.14 $2.14

20.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.78 $11.78

18.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.25 $15.25

-1.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.12 $2.12

101.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.71 $2.71

116.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.77 $1.77

64.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$89.6 $89.6

21.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.07 $3.07

-16.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.89 $1.89

-8.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$28.08 $28.08

8.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.54 $1.54

-9.09%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.6K $37.6K

-4.07%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.95%

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

$299 $299

$255 $255

17.58%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$74.0 $74.0

-6.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$81.2 $81.2

7.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$19.15 $19.15

-7.57%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,713 $1,713

76.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$31.7K $31.7K

-2.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$68.6 $68.6

12.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$57.9 $57.9

-4.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$117 $117

9.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$195 $195

-18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$3,300 $3,300

-24.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$2,594 $2,594

-25.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$4,887 $4,887

-2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$3,388 $3,388

7.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$5,036 $5,036

23.49%

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 Glendale, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $3,300 in Glendale, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 23% 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 $98.0 in Glendale, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $440 per month, with Glendale, 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 Glendale, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% 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 $3,300 in Glendale, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Seattle, WA runs roughly 22% less than in Glendale, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,020 in Seattle, WA versus $1,713 in Glendale, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Glendale, 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 Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Glendale, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.