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: $4,008 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,430 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,853 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Sunnyvale, CA is roughly 11% more expensive than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sunnyvale, CA 199% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.38 $22.38

$24.80 $24.80

-9.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 $65.6

$118 $118

-44.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 $10.80

$13.77 $13.77

-21.57%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$5.71 $5.71

-1.23%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.05 $3.05

-13.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.50 $2.50

0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.38 $7.38

$7.83 $7.83

-5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.88 $7.88

0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.35 $1.35

-4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.06 $5.06

-5.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.39 $5.39

-17.63%

Eggs

$3.54 $3.54

$6.85 $6.85

-48.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$25.07 $25.07

-56.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.88 $10.88

$15.85 $15.85

-31.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.55 $14.55

$20.59 $20.59

-29.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.14 $6.14

-36.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.82 $2.82

-20.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$5.51 $5.51

-29.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$6.74 $6.74

-24.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.15 $3.15

-25.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$3.82 $3.82

-43.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.69 $2.69

-8.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.64 $2.64

-61.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.52 $8.52

$11.65 $11.65

-26.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 $12.96

$15.69 $15.69

-17.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.93 $2.93

-28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.24 $4.24

-39.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.82 $2.82

5.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.47 $29.47

$100 $100

-70.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.60 $2.60

57.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.72 $1.72

8.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.48 $39.48

$30.22 $30.22

30.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.19 $1.19

7.56%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$32.7K $32.7K

-18.20%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

3.70%

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

$187 $187

$263 $263

-28.95%

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

$51.8 $51.8

$60.9 $60.9

-14.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$75.9 $75.9

-21.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 $48.98

$79.6 $79.6

-38.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 $16.26

$39.89 $39.89

-59.24%

Cinema Ticket

$17.19 $17.19

$16.27 $16.27

5.65%

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

$2,734 $2,734

$2,281 $2,281

19.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.3K $38.3K

$29.3K $29.3K

30.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$68.6 $68.6

-7.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.17 $35.17

$52.0 $52.0

-32.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 $98.7

$116 $116

-14.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$143 $143

2.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$2,336 $2,336

18.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$1,863 $1,863

40.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,988 $4,988

$4,628 $4,628

7.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,969 $3,969

$3,477 $3,477

14.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,869 $8,869

$7,766 $7,766

14.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,034 $9,034

$5,232 $5,232

72.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,016 $8,016

$6,617 $6,617

21.15%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,774 in Sunnyvale, CA and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sunnyvale, CA pays 21% 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: $66.0 in Sunnyvale, CA vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $547 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 11% in total monthly costs ($4,008 vs $3,598 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Sunnyvale, CA pays 21% 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: $2,774 in Sunnyvale, CA versus $2,336 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 $118 versus $66.0 in Sunnyvale, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,008 per month in Sunnyvale, CA versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA – a 11% 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 11% less than in Sunnyvale, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.