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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $2,335 in Walnut, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $3,501 in Walnut, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $4,666 in Walnut, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 54% more expensive than in Walnut, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Walnut, CA 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$18.19 $18.19

36.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$81.1 $81.1

50.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$15.20 $15.20

-7.76%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.06 $5.06

9.88%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.66 $3.66

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.29 $2.29

4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.12 $7.12

11.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.76 $7.76

4.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.12 $1.12

23.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.90 $3.90

26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.38 $2.38

124.79%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.78 $3.78

74.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$7.65 $7.65

225.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$8.69 $8.69

83.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$10.07 $10.07

100.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.45 $3.45

78.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.53 $1.53

80.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.23 $2.23

141.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.46 $3.46

88.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.75 $1.75

83.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.31 $1.31

186.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.02 $2.02

40.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.83 $1.83

43.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$8.10 $8.10

44.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$11.94 $11.94

29.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.01 $2.01

40.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.04 $3.04

39.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.02 $2.02

36.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$6.73 $6.73

-61.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.58 $1.58

4.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$29.16 $29.16

2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.25 $1.25

-8.80%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

30.02%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.0K $25.0K

3.83%

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

$270 $270

$99.4 $99.4

171.15%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$54.9 $54.9

8.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$50.3 $50.3

47.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$43.68 $43.68

77.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$15.29 $15.29

3.20%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,526 $1,526

49.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

27.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$34.73 $34.73

101.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$34.08 $34.08

53.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$68.4 $68.4

71.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$59.5 $59.5

141.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,572 $1,572

48.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,349 $1,349

40.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,658 $2,658

78.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,226 $2,226

55.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$3,005 $3,005

156.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,163 $2,163

130.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$5,065 $5,065

31.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.64

-3.31%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Walnut, CA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,572 in Walnut, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 31% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Walnut, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $302 per month, with Walnut, 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 Walnut, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Walnut, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 31% 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,572 in Walnut, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,279 in Seattle, WA versus $1,526 in Walnut, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Walnut, CA – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,335 in Walnut, CA versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Walnut, CA but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Walnut, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Walnut, 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.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Walnut, 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 Walnut, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.