Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Redwood City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Redwood City, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $4,048 in Redwood City, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $5,886 in Redwood City, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $7,725 in Redwood City, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 11% less than in Redwood City, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Redwood City, CA 202% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$27.01 $27.01

-8.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$100 $100

17.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$14.57 $14.57

-5.49%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.97 $4.97

14.89%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.59 $2.59

17.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.16 $2.16

15.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.98 $5.98

30.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.08 $7.08

11.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.47 $1.47

-8.16%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.40 $2.40

110.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.64 $5.64

-4.43%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.84 $4.84

41.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.82 $7.82

220.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$14.91 $14.91

6.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$16.75 $16.75

22.93%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.45 $6.45

-4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.22 $2.22

27.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.68 $3.68

49.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.14 $3.14

114.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.37 $2.37

32.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.49 $3.49

9.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.21 $2.21

21.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.99 $2.99

-11.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.87 $8.87

31.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.11 $12.11

29.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.69 $1.69

73.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.95 $3.95

7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$7.20 $7.20

-60.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$74.8 $74.8

33.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.43 $3.43

-24.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.87 $1.87

-8.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$40.09 $40.09

-24.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.21 $1.21

-1.65%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$24.3K $24.3K

34.49%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.46%

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

$263 $263

$193 $193

36.13%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$50.4 $50.4

20.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$72.3 $72.3

5.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$179 $179

-55.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$14.65 $14.65

11.06%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$2,698 $2,698

-15.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$38.2K $38.2K

-23.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$59.9 $59.9

14.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$60.3 $60.3

-13.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$89.3 $89.3

29.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$100 $100

43.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$4,174 $4,174

-44.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$2,503 $2,503

-25.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$5,455 $5,455

-15.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$4,227 $4,227

-17.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$8,032 $8,032

-17.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Redwood City, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $4,174 in Redwood City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $100 in Redwood City, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $404 per month, with Redwood City, CA cheaper across the board.

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 Redwood City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Redwood City, CA differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $4,048 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Redwood City, CA earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $4,174 in Redwood City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Redwood City, CA pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $118 versus $100 in Redwood City, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.