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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,769 in Stockton, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,198 in Stockton, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $5,628 in Stockton, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than in Stockton, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Stockton, CA 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$23.36 $23.36

5.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$74.5 $74.5

33.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$12.20 $12.20

23.69%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$5.94 $5.94

11.45%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.16 $3.16

-0.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.24 $2.24

33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.18 $8.18

-0.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.78 $6.78

15.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.49 $1.49

-21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.28 $4.28

21.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.22 $4.22

51.66%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$6.00 $6.00

-18.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$8.80 $8.80

143.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$14.43 $14.43

28.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$21.51 $21.51

7.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$5.26 $5.26

10.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.42 $1.42

32.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.61 $3.61

49.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.34 $5.34

17.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.06 $2.06

84.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.03 $3.03

7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.37 $2.37

21.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.46 $2.46

10.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.78 $11.78

20.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$15.54 $15.54

-3.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.77 $1.77

146.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$1.26 $1.26

356.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.55 $2.55

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$40.30 $40.30

172.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.57 $3.57

-28.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$3.05 $3.05

-45.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$30.35 $30.35

-1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.45 $1.45

-4.83%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

42.86%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.07%

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

$296 $296

$277 $277

6.86%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$47.78 $47.78

49.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$81.5 $81.5

7.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$37.10 $37.10

119.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.07 $14.07

30.28%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$250 $250

1125.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$14.8K $14.8K

106.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$59.6 $59.6

29.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$28.63 $28.63

88.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$79.5 $79.5

60.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$74.7 $74.7

120.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,569 $1,569

54.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,318 $1,318

46.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,873 $2,873

65.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$2,626 $2,626

36.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,998 $2,998

146.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$3,010 $3,010

68.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$3,852 $3,852

64.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.13

4.73%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Stockton, CA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,569 in Stockton, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 64% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $74.0 in Stockton, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $431 per month, with Stockton, 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 Stockton, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stockton, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 64% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $1,569 in Stockton, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Stockton, CA – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,769 in Stockton, CA – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Stockton, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Stockton, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Stockton, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.