Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Redding, CA: $2,347 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
Learn more

Seattle, WA Living Index
114

Cost of Living Index in Redding, CA
Learn more

Redding, CA Living Index

Jump to prices

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Redding, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,347

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Redding, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Redding, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,347 in Redding, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Redding, CA $2,347

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,370 in Redding, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Redding, CA $3,370

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,394 in Redding, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Redding, CA $4,394

Seattle, WA costs about 61% more than Redding, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Redding, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Redding, CA by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$14.82 $14.82

70.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$60.7 $60.7

66.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$11.96 $11.96

23.41%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.30 $5.30

22.64%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.47 $2.47

29.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.95 $1.95

61.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$5.87 $5.87

35.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$4.98 $4.98

63.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.11 $1.11

5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.12 $4.12

28.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.22 $3.22

98.76%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$4.08 $4.08

24.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$11.76 $11.76

59.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$16.46 $16.46

13.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$18.74 $18.74

22.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.02 $6.02

0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.65 $1.65

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.74 $2.74

101.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.55 $5.55

17.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.95 $3.95

-11.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.02 $3.02

8.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.59 $2.59

8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.35 $1.35

91.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$11.94 $11.94

4.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$10.58 $10.58

40.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.72 $1.72

143.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.63 $3.63

59.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.99 $1.99

53.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$50.6 $50.6

109.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.22 $3.22

-19.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.42 $2.42

-32.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$40.15 $40.15

-24.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.53 $1.53

-7.84%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$27.2K $27.2K

35.11%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.5K $26.5K

0.42%

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

$308 $308

$191 $191

60.93%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$59.1 $59.1

17.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$68.7 $68.7

25.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$47.26 $47.26

61.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$10.95 $10.95

64.57%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$2,527 $2,527

8.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$37.6K $37.6K

-18.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$64.6 $64.6

22.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$32.84 $32.84

65.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$91.8 $91.8

38.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$202 $202

-21.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,377 $1,377

82.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,018 $1,018

90.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$1,876 $1,876

172.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$1,513 $1,513

134.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$3,028 $3,028

143.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$2,561 $2,561

95.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$3,672 $3,672

76.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.7

2.84%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Redding, CA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Redding, CA

$1K 43.4% 47.5% $920

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Redding, CA

$416 17.7% 24% $131

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Redding, CA

$319 13.6% 31.1% $144

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Redding, CA

$275 11.7% 32.3% $131

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Redding, CA

$176 7.5% 6.8% $13

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Redding, CA

$74 3.2% 42.7% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Redding, CA

$69 3% 38.5% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,377 in Redding, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $61 in Redding, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $416 – making Redding, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Redding, CA

🕒 Local time

14:50 2:50 PM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

91,582

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Seattle, WA Redding, CA 780 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Redding, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Redding, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 61%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,520 in Redding, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Redding, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,377 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Redding, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,746 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,527 in Redding, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Redding, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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