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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,904 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,380 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $5,549 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,856 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $7,494 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Sunnyvale, CA is roughly 8% more expensive than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sunnyvale, CA 192% above, Seattle, WA 170% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.73 $22.73

$24.78 $24.78

-8.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.0 $64.0

$122 $122

-47.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 $11.17

$14.02 $14.02

-20.33%

Cappuccino

$5.92 $5.92

$5.56 $5.56

6.47%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$3.05 $3.05

-14.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.39 $2.39

5.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.53 $7.53

$7.94 $7.94

-5.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.09 $8.09

-3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.38 $1.38

-3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.95 $4.95

-3.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.35 $5.35

-18.50%

Eggs

$3.41 $3.41

$6.59 $6.59

-48.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 $11.08

$24.87 $24.87

-55.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.09 $11.09

$15.92 $15.92

-30.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 $14.04

$20.21 $20.21

-30.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$6.17 $6.17

-38.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.76 $2.76

-20.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.38 $5.38

-26.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.52 $6.52

-23.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.21 $3.21

-25.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.75 $3.75

-40.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.84 $2.84

-10.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.62 $2.62

-61.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 $8.71

$11.69 $11.69

-25.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.81 $12.81

$15.46 $15.46

-17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.83 $2.83

-24.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$4.25 $4.25

-42.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.76 $2.76

9.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.92 $29.92

$97.8 $97.8

-69.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.60 $2.60

55.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.65 $1.65

9.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.89 $38.89

$29.77 $29.77

30.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.14 $1.14

13.16%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$33.1K $33.1K

-18.18%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

5.48%

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

$188 $188

$270 $270

-30.12%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$59.7 $59.7

-14.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$74.3 $74.3

-19.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.45 $49.45

$77.7 $77.7

-36.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 $16.26

$41.03 $41.03

-60.37%

Cinema Ticket

$17.29 $17.29

$15.78 $15.78

9.57%

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

$2,735 $2,735

$2,279 $2,279

20.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.6K $37.6K

$29.8K $29.8K

26.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 $62.7

$69.8 $69.8

-10.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.94 $34.94

$52.3 $52.3

-33.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$117 $117

-17.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$143 $143

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,726 $2,726

$2,332 $2,332

16.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,669 $2,669

$1,899 $1,899

40.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,853 $4,853

$4,756 $4,756

2.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,982 $3,982

$3,472 $3,472

14.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,166 $9,166

$7,709 $7,709

18.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,854 $8,854

$4,983 $4,983

77.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,768 $8,768

$6,641 $6,641

32.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.42

-0.93%

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

Last update for Sunnyvale, CA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,726 in Sunnyvale, CA and $2,332 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sunnyvale, CA pays 32% 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: $64.0 in Sunnyvale, CA vs $122 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $541 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

Sunnyvale, CA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sunnyvale, CA and Seattle, WA differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($3,904 vs $3,604 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Sunnyvale, CA, 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: $2,726 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $2,332 in Seattle, WA. 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 $122 versus $64.0 in Sunnyvale, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,904 per month in Sunnyvale, CA versus $3,604 in Seattle, WA – a 8% 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, Sunnyvale, CA and Seattle, WA 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 8% less than in Sunnyvale, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.