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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $4,297 in Sunnyvale, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $5,719 in Sunnyvale, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $7,142 in Sunnyvale, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 10% less than in Sunnyvale, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Sunnyvale, CA 214% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$24.08 $24.08

3.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$75.3 $75.3

32.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.09 $12.09

24.57%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.64 $5.64

12.94%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.75 $2.75

12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.54 $2.54

18.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.15 $6.15

26.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.78 $7.78

5.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.42 $1.42

-14.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.72 $3.72

34.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.49 $5.49

16.39%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.09 $5.09

0.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$8.84 $8.84

138.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.08 $13.08

40.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$13.35 $13.35

80.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.24 $2.24

162.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.22 $2.22

-15.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.17 $2.17

143.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$2.17 $2.17

198.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.54 $2.54

44.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.90 $1.90

76.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.44 $2.44

14.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.99 $0.99

160.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$11.75 $11.75

18.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$13.09 $13.09

14.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.68 $1.68

154.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.06 $3.06

91.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.77 $2.77

5.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$89.8 $89.8

21.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.21 $4.21

-38.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.98 $1.98

-13.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$29.92 $29.92

1.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.42 $1.42

-1.41%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.3K $37.3K

-3.29%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.72%

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

$299 $299

$252 $252

18.87%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$42.39 $42.39

63.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$60.9 $60.9

43.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$50.2 $50.2

59.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$17.18 $17.18

103.32%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$12.20 $12.20

45.08%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$2,109 $2,109

43.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

25.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$63.1 $63.1

22.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$35.57 $35.57

54.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$95.5 $95.5

34.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$201 $201

-20.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$3,317 $3,317

-24.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$2,900 $2,900

-33.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$5,397 $5,397

-11.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$4,078 $4,078

-10.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$9,118 $9,118

-16.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$8,830 $8,830

-42.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$8,766 $8,766

-29.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

7.50%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sunnyvale, CA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $3,317 in Sunnyvale, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sunnyvale, CA pays 41% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Sunnyvale, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $344 per month, with Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Sunnyvale, CA differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $4,297 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Sunnyvale, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $3,317 in Sunnyvale, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seattle, WA – a meal for two runs $100 versus $75.0 in Sunnyvale, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $4,297 in Sunnyvale, CA – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Sunnyvale, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Sunnyvale, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.