Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Palm Desert, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Palm Desert, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 28.1% more expensive than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 13.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 42.3% more expensive than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 31.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$17.92 $17.92
40.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$81.3 $81.3
45.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.7 $11.7
18.29%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.1 $5.1
13.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.65 $3.65
-19.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.2 $2.2
14.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$7.13 $7.13
9.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.04 $8.04
-2.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.17 $1.17
14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.13 $4.13
20.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.61 $4.61
16.05%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.9 $3.9
77.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$11.15 $11.15
122.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$15.92 $15.92
-1.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$15.21 $15.21
37.02%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$4.49 $4.49
34.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.55 $1.55
77.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.87 $4.87
12.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$5.68 $5.68
13.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.23 $3.23
-3.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.97 $2.97
24.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.05 $2.05
35.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.19 $2.19
15.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.21 $11.21
3.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$13.31 $13.31
28.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.94 $1.94
51.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.52 $3.52
19.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.98 $1.98
41.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$6.5 $6.5
-58.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.07 $2.07
-20.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$28.83 $28.83
4.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.09 $1.09
6.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$25.3K $25.3K
31.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$28.4K $28.4K
-7.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$158 $158
71.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$54.1 $54.1
14.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$58 $58
29.67%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$42.99 $42.99
82.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$13.05 $13.05
21.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,514 $1,514
48.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$23.7K $23.7K
22.45%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$46.95 $46.95
48.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$29.73 $29.73
76.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$60.6 $60.6
97.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$60.8 $60.8
134.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,512 $2,512
-5.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,028 $2,028
-9.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$3,145 $3,145
49.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,960 $2,960
17.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$3,175 $3,175
118.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,404 $2,404
117.35%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$5,157 $5,157
25.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.64
-3.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: October 27, 2025

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