Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and San Jose, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and San Jose, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 5.5% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 17.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 5.8% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$20.3 $20.3

23.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$100 $100

18.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.54 $11.54

19.93%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.79 $5.79

0.17%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.22 $3.22

-8.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.47 $2.47

1.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$8.8 $8.8

-11.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$10.92 $10.92

-28.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.46 $1.46

-8.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.94 $4.94

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.19 $3.19

67.71%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.85 $4.85

42.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$21.13 $21.13

17.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.17 $15.17

3.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$22.45 $22.45

-7.17%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.08 $6.08

-0.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.46 $2.46

11.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.79 $4.79

14.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$6.75 $6.75

-4.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.44 $3.44

-9.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.28 $4.28

-13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.97 $2.97

-6.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.77 $2.77

-9.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.32 $11.32

2.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$14.95 $14.95

14.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.35 $2.35

25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.35 $3.35

25.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.53 $2.53

10.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$89 $89

13.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.42 $3.42

-21.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.89 $1.89

-12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$29.82 $29.82

1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.31 $1.31

-11.45%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30.2K $30.2K

10.40%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27K $27K

-2.70%

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

$271 $271

$292 $292

-7.34%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$49.13 $49.13

25.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$67.9 $67.9

10.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$122 $122

-35.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$30.12 $30.12

36.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$15.45 $15.45

2.85%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,985 $1,985

13.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$26.2K $26.2K

10.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$52.5 $52.5

32.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$43.85 $43.85

19.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$89.8 $89.8

33.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$138 $138

3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$3,022 $3,022

-21.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,672 $2,672

-31.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$5,283 $5,283

-10.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$4,622 $4,622

-24.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$10.6K $10.6K

-34.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$9,587 $9,587

-45.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$5,864 $5,864

10.38%

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 San Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

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