Cost of Living Comparison Between Torrance, CA and Kent, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Torrance, CA and Kent, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,590 in Torrance, CA versus $3,344 in Kent, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,396 in Torrance, CA versus $5,142 in Kent, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,203 in Torrance, CA versus $6,939 in Kent, WA.

Living in Torrance, CA is roughly 7% more expensive than in Kent, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Torrance, CA 161% above, Kent, WA 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$19.95 $19.95

24.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$80.1 $80.1

27.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.29 $15.29

$13.52 $13.52

13.09%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$4.90 $4.90

15.31%

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

$3.76 $3.76

$2.67 $2.67

40.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.12 $2.12

36.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.09 $7.09

14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.08 $10.08

$7.80 $7.80

29.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.18 $1.18

16.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.79 $4.79

5.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$3.36 $3.36

48.81%

Eggs

$5.82 $5.82

$6.87 $6.87

-15.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.25 $17.25

$15.14 $15.14

13.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$14.06 $14.06

11.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.68 $19.68

$22.92 $22.92

-14.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$5.97 $5.97

-7.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.97 $1.97

25.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.92 $3.92

30.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$4.15 $4.15

39.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.82 $2.82

18.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.59 $2.59

13.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.96 $1.96

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.71 $2.71

-5.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.81 $12.81

$12.10 $12.10

5.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.95 $14.95

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.20 $2.20

12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.05 $2.05

44.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.25 $3.25

-37.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.52 $39.52

$62.6 $62.6

-36.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.55 $2.55

22.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.67 $1.67

26.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.81 $31.81

$29.48 $29.48

7.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.37 $1.37

6.57%

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

$37.3K $37.3K

$36.8K $36.8K

1.26%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

4.43%

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

$260 $260

$295 $295

-11.87%

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

$75.6 $75.6

$63.3 $63.3

19.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.3 $80.3

$82.7 $82.7

-2.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 $57.3

$33.47 $33.47

71.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.83 $24.83

$17.10 $17.10

45.20%

Cinema Ticket

$19.44 $19.44

$17.67 $17.67

10.02%

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

$1,945 $1,945

$2,707 $2,707

-28.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$31.3K $31.3K

1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$69.7 $69.7

0.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 $62.4

$55.5 $55.5

12.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$102 $102

12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$197 $197

$162 $162

21.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,586 $2,586

$2,065 $2,065

25.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,997 $1,997

$1,773 $1,773

12.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,291 $4,291

$3,953 $3,953

8.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,461 $3,461

$3,527 $3,527

-1.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,462 $7,462

$6,020 $6,020

23.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,395 $6,395

$3,870 $3,870

65.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,716 $5,716

$4,629 $4,629

23.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Torrance, CA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kent, WA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,586 in Torrance, CA and $2,065 in Kent, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Torrance, CA pays 23% 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: $102 in Torrance, CA vs $80.0 in Kent, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $491 vs $462 per month, with Kent, WA 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

Torrance, CA vs Kent, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kent, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Torrance, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kent, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Torrance, 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: $2,586 in Torrance, CA versus $2,065 in Kent, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kent, WA – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $102 in Torrance, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,590 per month in Torrance, CA versus $3,344 in Kent, WA – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kent, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kent, WA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,344 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kent, WA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Torrance, CA and Kent, 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 Kent, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Torrance, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.