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 $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,618 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,699 per month in Seattle, WA vs $7,032 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,513 per month in Seattle, WA vs $9,446 in Los Gatos, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA is about 16% cheaper than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Los Gatos, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 182%, Los Gatos, CA by 235%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$25.02 $25.02

1.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$109 $109

-7.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.87 $11.87

24.68%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.58 $5.58

18.82%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.94 $2.94

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.20 $2.20

34.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.77 $7.77

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.05 $8.05

-2.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.26 $1.26

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.27 $4.27

20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.87 $4.87

26.49%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$6.95 $6.95

-26.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$21.97 $21.97

-3.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$11.96 $11.96

54.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$13.35 $13.35

72.58%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.53 $5.53

9.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.25 $2.25

-16.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.67 $4.67

11.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$6.01 $6.01

5.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.38 $3.38

11.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.00 $3.00

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.45 $2.45

17.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.72 $2.72

-2.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$7.65 $7.65

81.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.82 $11.82

27.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.75 $1.75

138.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.45 $2.45

130.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.26 $3.26

-21.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.35 $2.35

-29.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$39.62 $39.62

-25.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.47 $1.47

-0.68%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

19.42%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

-0.61%

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

$306 $306

$189 $189

61.68%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$60.7 $60.7

15.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$63.1 $63.1

38.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$147 $147

-45.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$16.75 $16.75

6.57%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$2,392 $2,392

26.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$24.3K $24.3K

28.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$51.6 $51.6

48.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.63 $39.63

35.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$74.1 $74.1

69.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$60.2 $60.2

169.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$3,497 $3,497

-29.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$3,119 $3,119

-36.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$6,088 $6,088

-40.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$3,564 $3,564

106.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.25

3.20%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $3,497 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $109 in Los Gatos, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $551 in Seattle, WA vs $454 in Los Gatos, CA – so Los Gatos, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Los Gatos, CA costs about 19% more than Seattle, WA, 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 $5,829 per month in Seattle, WA and $6,927 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 Seattle, WA, 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 $101 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Los Gatos, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,886 in Seattle, WA and $4,618 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. Seattle, WA costs $3,886 versus $4,618 in Los Gatos, CA. 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 Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Los Gatos, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.