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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $2,654 in Stockton, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $3,784 in Stockton, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $4,915 in Stockton, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 38% more expensive than Stockton, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Stockton, CA 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$19.84 $19.84

27.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$65.3 $65.3

85.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.37 $11.37

24.10%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.77 $5.77

0.87%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.19 $3.19

-6.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.31 $2.31

3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$6.61 $6.61

16.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$5.82 $5.82

35.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.43 $1.43

-6.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.57 $4.57

7.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.26 $3.26

57.67%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.79 $4.79

37.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$9.72 $9.72

153.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$15.25 $15.25

4.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$22.72 $22.72

-11.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.00 $6.00

4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.46 $1.46

95.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.01 $3.01

75.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.07 $6.07

5.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.68 $1.68

91.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.51 $4.51

-15.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.68 $2.68

2.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.22 $2.22

16.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.28 $11.28

3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$14.27 $14.27

10.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.68 $1.68

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.26 $1.26

248.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.90 $2.90

-4.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$37.68 $37.68

162.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.54 $3.54

-24.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.05 $2.05

-17.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.71 $29.71

0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.22 $1.22

-6.56%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

30.82%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.58%

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

$268 $268

$292 $292

-8.12%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$48.53 $48.53

25.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$67.7 $67.7

12.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$36.29 $36.29

115.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.16 $13.16

20.21%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$255 $255

784.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$14.9K $14.9K

99.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$52.5 $52.5

34.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$28.64 $28.64

85.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$78.1 $78.1

50.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$81.0 $81.0

71.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,485 $1,485

55.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,192 $1,192

55.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,767 $2,767

71.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$1,966 $1,966

80.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$3,062 $3,062

153.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$3,041 $3,041

75.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$3,809 $3,809

72.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.27

2.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Stockton, CA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $1,485 in Stockton, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 73% 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: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $65 in Stockton, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $438 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 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 73% more on average, 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: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,485 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 $65.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,654 in Stockton, CA – a 38% 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 38% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.