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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 32% more expensive than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 18.7% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 9.9% more expensive than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$20.55 $20.55

22.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$65.3 $65.3

81.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.69 $11.69

18.39%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.06 $5.06

14.62%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.17 $3.17

-6.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.45 $2.45

2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.97 $6.97

12.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$9.85 $9.85

-20.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.49 $1.49

-10.07%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.96 $4.96

0.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.32 $3.32

61.14%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.78 $4.78

44.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$14.61 $14.61

69.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.34 $15.34

2.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$22.18 $22.18

-6.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$6 $6

0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.18 $2.18

26.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5 $5

9.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$6.47 $6.47

-0.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.6 $3.6

-13.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.45 $4.45

-17.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.75 $2.75

1.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.74 $2.74

-8.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.16 $11.16

4.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$13.76 $13.76

24.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.77 $1.77

66.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.43 $3.43

22.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$4.37 $4.37

-35.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$66.5 $66.5

51.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.54 $3.54

-24.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.93 $1.93

-14.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$30.31 $30.31

-0.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.24 $1.24

-6.45%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30K $30K

11.12%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.10%

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

$271 $271

$257 $257

5.26%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$47.84 $47.84

29.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$63.5 $63.5

18.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$94.4 $94.4

-16.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$15.8 $15.8

0.57%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,987 $1,987

13.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$26K $26K

11.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$53.8 $53.8

29.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$29.65 $29.65

77.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$86.8 $86.8

37.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$125 $125

14.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,795 $2,795

-15.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$2,869 $2,869

-36.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$5,762 $5,762

-18.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$5,478 $5,478

-36.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$3,115 $3,115

122.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$2,308 $2,308

126.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$7,443 $7,443

-13.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.32

1.58%

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 Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

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