Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Los Gatos, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Los Gatos, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,739 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,093 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,446 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 32% more than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Los Gatos, CA by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$29.76 $29.76

-15.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$109 $109

8.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$14.20 $14.20

-3.10%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.91 $4.91

19.14%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.03 $3.03

0.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.19 $2.19

9.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$8.75 $8.75

-9.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.97 $7.97

-1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.48 $1.48

-6.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.14 $5.14

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.18 $3.18

62.89%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$5.46 $5.46

22.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$13.13 $13.13

92.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$14.86 $14.86

7.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$17.20 $17.20

17.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$8.00 $8.00

-22.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.25 $2.25

28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.36 $4.36

25.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.83 $4.83

32.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.87 $2.87

7.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.37 $3.37

12.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.15 $2.15

30.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.72 $2.72

-4.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$10.72 $10.72

6.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$12.93 $12.93

20.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.77 $1.77

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.96 $3.96

6.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.54 $3.54

-24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.91 $1.91

-10.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.99 $29.99

-1.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.30 $1.30

-12.31%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.6K $23.6K

41.33%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.09%

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

$261 $261

$216 $216

21.16%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$39.08 $39.08

54.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$64.2 $64.2

18.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$43.67 $43.67

80.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.22 $14.22

11.25%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,167 $1,167

89.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

24.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$56.1 $56.1

24.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.63 $39.63

31.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$93.8 $93.8

24.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$78.9 $78.9

76.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,609 $1,609

44.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,330 $1,330

40.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,638 $2,638

79.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,199 $2,199

62.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$3,498 $3,498

118.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.67

-3.75%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,609 in Los Gatos, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $109 in Los Gatos, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $460 – making Los Gatos, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 32% more than Los Gatos, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,109 in Los Gatos, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Gatos, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $109 in Los Gatos, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,739 in Los Gatos, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Los Gatos, CA costs $2,739 versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Los Gatos, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.