Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Sacramento, CA: $3,000 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
143

Cost of Living Index in Sacramento, CA
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Sacramento, CA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Sacramento, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,000

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,000 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Sacramento, CA $3,000

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,471 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Sacramento, CA $4,471

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,943 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Sacramento, CA $5,943

Seattle, WA costs about 26% more than Sacramento, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Seattle, WA and Sacramento, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Sacramento, CA by 120%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$21.12 $21.12

19.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$99.6 $99.6

1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$12.26 $12.26

20.39%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.19 $5.19

25.24%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$2.91 $2.91

10.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.94 $2.94

6.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$7.85 $7.85

1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.83 $7.83

3.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.31 $1.31

-10.69%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.16 $4.16

27.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.59 $4.59

39.43%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$5.87 $5.87

-13.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$15.16 $15.16

23.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$15.14 $15.14

23.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$18.50 $18.50

23.68%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.98 $4.98

21.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.41 $4.41

24.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.67 $5.67

14.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.67 $3.67

-4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.31 $3.31

-0.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.40 $2.40

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.61 $2.61

-1.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$11.83 $11.83

5.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.21 $14.21

4.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.59 $2.59

61.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.65 $3.65

58.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.57 $2.57

18.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$100.0 $100.0

5.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.06 $4.06

-36.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.92 $1.92

-14.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$25.35 $25.35

18.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.62 $1.62

-12.96%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$34.5K $34.5K

6.57%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.23%

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

$308 $308

$231 $231

33.26%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$61.0 $61.0

13.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$69.0 $69.0

24.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$31.12 $31.12

145.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

$40.69 $40.69

-12.75%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$17.25 $17.25

4.46%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$1,532 $1,532

79.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$19.0K $19.0K

60.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$60.5 $60.5

30.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$47.13 $47.13

15.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$93.1 $93.1

36.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$131 $131

21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,986 $1,986

26.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,491 $1,491

29.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$3,109 $3,109

64.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,505 $2,505

41.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$5,486 $5,486

34.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$3,428 $3,428

45.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$4,815 $4,815

34.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.59

4.55%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Sacramento, 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%

Sacramento, CA

$1.5K 49.7% 23.1% $447

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Sacramento, CA

$463 15.4% 15.4% $84

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Sacramento, CA

$361 12% 22% $102

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Sacramento, CA

$346 11.5% 14.8% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Sacramento, CA

$149 5% 20.9% $39

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Sacramento, CA

$124 4.1% 3.9% $5

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Sacramento, CA

$66 2.2% 41.7% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,986 in Sacramento, 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 34% 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 $100 in Sacramento, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $463 – making Sacramento, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Sacramento, CA

🕒 Local time

04:00 4:00 AM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

524,943

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Seattle, WA Sacramento, CA 1,010 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 26%, 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 $4,500 in Sacramento, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sacramento, CA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,986 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Public transport costs about 6% less in Sacramento, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $3,000 in Sacramento, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.