Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Palo Alto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Palo Alto, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 9.5% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 25.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 8.8% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 21.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$24.92 $24.92
0.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$111 $111
6.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.34 $11.34
22.05%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.74 $5.74
1.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.24 $3.24
-8.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.54 $2.54
-1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$8.14 $8.14
-4.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$10.03 $10.03
-21.83%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.47 $1.47
-8.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.99 $4.99
-0.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$3.19 $3.19
67.71%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$6.16 $6.16
12.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$21.55 $21.55
15.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$14.78 $14.78
6.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$22.82 $22.82
-8.68%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$6.95 $6.95
-12.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.56 $2.56
7.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.84 $4.84
13.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$6.75 $6.75
-4.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.89 $3.89
-20.05%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.37 $4.37
-15.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.9 $2.9
-4.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.86 $2.86
-11.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$11.11 $11.11
4.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$18.33 $18.33
-6.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.27 $2.27
29.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.35 $3.35
25.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.55 $2.55
9.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$89.6 $89.6
12.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.11 $4.11
-34.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.89 $1.89
-12.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$30.51 $30.51
-1.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.27 $1.27
-8.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$29.7K $29.7K
12.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.6K $26.6K
-1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$225 $225
20.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$47.97 $47.97
28.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$68.6 $68.6
9.59%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$120 $120
-34.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$19.88 $19.88
106.44%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$15.78 $15.78
0.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$2,710 $2,710
-17.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$45.7K $45.7K
-36.43%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$53.2 $53.2
30.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$44.76 $44.76
17.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$89.3 $89.3
33.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$135 $135
5.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$3,473 $3,473
-31.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$3,227 $3,227
-43.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$5,889 $5,889
-20.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$5,757 $5,757
-39.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$2,539 $2,539
172.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,123 $2,123
146.10%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$10K $10K
-35.30%
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 Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.