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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,583 in Seattle, WA versus $2,422 in Visalia, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,632 in Seattle, WA versus $3,702 in Visalia, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,681 in Seattle, WA versus $4,982 in Visalia, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 48% more expensive than Visalia, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Visalia, CA 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 $24.97

$19.19 $19.19

30.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$101 $101

18.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.89 $9.89

40.55%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.30 $5.30

4.91%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.72 $1.72

77.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.27 $1.27

94.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.09 $5.09

56.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.91 $7.91

1.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.42 $1.42

-5.63%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.61 $3.61

39.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.30 $3.30

62.42%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$5.01 $5.01

31.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.31 $25.31

$10.11 $10.11

150.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$8.90 $8.90

81.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.83 $14.83

36.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.51 $5.51

8.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.94 $1.94

41.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$2.22 $2.22

141.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 $6.61

$4.43 $4.43

49.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.17 $3.17

2.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.16 $2.16

75.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.95 $1.95

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.83 $2.83

-10.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$11.46 $11.46

-1.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$15.39 $15.39

5.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.36 $2.36

20.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.30 $3.30

26.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.44 $3.44

-21.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

$35.56 $35.56

173.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.55 $3.55

-23.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.44 $2.44

-29.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$29.77 $29.77

-1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.19 $1.19

0.84%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$30.4K $30.4K

10.31%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.9K $26.9K

-3.44%

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

$266 $266

$196 $196

36.06%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$47.69 $47.69

26.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$57.1 $57.1

33.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$34.77 $34.77

127.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.51 $40.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 $16.22

$13.97 $13.97

16.11%

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

$2,280 $2,280

$1,992 $1,992

14.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

13.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 $69.6

$53.4 $53.4

30.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 $52.6

$35.46 $35.46

48.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$88.0 $88.0

35.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$137 $137

3.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,326 $1,326

79.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,205 $1,205

54.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,724 $4,724

$2,128 $2,128

121.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$2,072 $2,072

69.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,711 $7,711

$2,585 $2,585

198.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,381 $5,381

$2,594 $2,594

107.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,493 $6,493

$4,568 $4,568

42.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Visalia, CA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,378 in Seattle, WA and $1,326 in Visalia, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 42% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in Visalia, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $544 vs $378 per month, with Visalia, 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 Visalia, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Visalia, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 42% 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: $2,378 in Seattle, WA versus $1,326 in Visalia, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Visalia, CA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $119 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,583 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,422 in Visalia, CA – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,422 in Visalia, CA versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Visalia, CA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Visalia, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Visalia, 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 Visalia, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.