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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,836 in Seattle, WA versus $2,784 in Vallejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,763 in Seattle, WA versus $4,613 in Vallejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,691 in Seattle, WA versus $6,442 in Vallejo, CA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Vallejo, CA 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$27.16 $27.16

-9.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$89.2 $89.2

11.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.86 $11.86

27.23%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$4.70 $4.70

40.85%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.74 $2.74

14.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.87 $2.87

3.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.85 $7.85

3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.44 $8.44

-6.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.49 $1.49

-21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.38 $4.38

18.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$3.96 $3.96

61.62%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$5.01 $5.01

-2.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$19.46 $19.46

10.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.76 $13.76

35.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$14.23 $14.23

61.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.38 $4.38

32.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.13 $2.13

-11.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.16 $5.16

4.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.85 $6.85

-8.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.87 $3.87

-1.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.66 $3.66

-10.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.99 $2.99

-4.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.80 $1.80

50.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.94 $9.94

42.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$10.07 $10.07

49.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.72 $1.72

153.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.30 $2.30

150.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$5.09 $5.09

-39.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

$68.8 $68.8

59.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.10 $4.10

-37.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.87 $1.87

-11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$28.26 $28.26

5.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.41 $1.41

-2.13%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.2K $37.2K

-1.93%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.37%

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

$296 $296

$141 $141

110.69%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$50.0 $50.0

42.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$68.9 $68.9

27.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$37.01 $37.01

120.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$13.11 $13.11

39.82%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$698 $698

339.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$7,918 $7,918

285.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$42.61 $42.61

80.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$41.55 $41.55

29.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$86.4 $86.4

47.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$79.0 $79.0

108.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$1,642 $1,642

47.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,479 $1,479

30.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,279 $3,279

45.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$3,225 $3,225

11.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,697 $3,697

100.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$3,808 $3,808

32.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$4,158 $4,158

52.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.12

4.90%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Vallejo, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,418 in Seattle, WA and $1,642 in Vallejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 52% 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 $89.0 in Vallejo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $440 per month, with Vallejo, 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 Vallejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vallejo, 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.

Average pay runs 52% 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 $1,642 in Vallejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Vallejo, CA – a meal for two runs $89.0 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 $2,784 in Vallejo, CA – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Vallejo, 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 Vallejo, 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.