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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA versus $2,776 in Ukiah, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $4,015 in Ukiah, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,565 in Seattle, WA versus $5,254 in Ukiah, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 27% more expensive than in Ukiah, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 165% above, Ukiah, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$22.40 $22.40

13.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$84.2 $84.2

43.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$8.56 $8.56

61.33%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$4.89 $4.89

19.84%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.52 $2.52

19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.16 $2.16

11.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.43 $6.43

22.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.06 $7.06

16.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.10 $1.10

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.02 $5.02

-2.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$6.51 $6.51

-20.43%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.88 $3.88

76.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$13.01 $13.01

91.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$6.77 $6.77

131.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$17.22 $17.22

16.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$7.89 $7.89

-23.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.22 $2.22

27.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.37 $6.37

-15.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$6.08 $6.08

9.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.45 $4.45

-29.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.35 $3.35

10.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.21 $2.21

26.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.05 $3.05

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.98 $10.98

3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$14.30 $14.30

8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.75 $1.75

64.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.12 $4.12

1.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.05 $2.05

35.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.57 $3.57

-27.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.84 $1.84

-9.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$39.40 $39.40

-24.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.30 $1.30

-12.31%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$24.3K $24.3K

37.25%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.70%

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

$263 $263

$272 $272

-3.54%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$52.8 $52.8

15.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$70.7 $70.7

5.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$43.46 $43.46

83.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$14.47 $14.47

9.26%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$2,722 $2,722

-15.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$37.9K $37.9K

-21.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$62.7 $62.7

8.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$61.0 $61.0

-14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$93.6 $93.6

24.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$127 $127

9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,571 $1,571

51.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,356 $1,356

38.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,667 $2,667

78.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$2,182 $2,182

63.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$3,924 $3,924

104.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$3,619 $3,619

43.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.55

-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for Ukiah, CA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Seattle, WA and $1,571 in Ukiah, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $84.0 in Ukiah, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $540 vs $447 per month, with Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ukiah, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,300 in Seattle, WA and $4,164 in Ukiah, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $1,571 in Ukiah, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,289 in Seattle, WA versus $2,722 in Ukiah, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ukiah, CA – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ukiah, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.