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: $3,517 in Torrance, CA versus $3,347 in Kent, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,452 in Torrance, CA versus $5,089 in Kent, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,387 in Torrance, CA versus $6,832 in Kent, WA.

Living in Torrance, CA is roughly 5% more expensive than in Kent, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Torrance, CA 163% above, Kent, WA 151% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.05 $20.05

$25.36 $25.36

-20.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 $86.5

$78.6 $78.6

10.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.76 $11.76

18.20%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.73 $5.73

1.92%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.90 $2.90

2.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.50 $2.50

-12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.11 $7.11

14.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.90 $9.90

$6.12 $6.12

61.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.04 $1.04

19.23%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.69 $3.69

21.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$4.12 $4.12

43.93%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$6.66 $6.66

5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$17.35 $17.35

-27.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.27 $17.27

$10.60 $10.60

62.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.51 $16.51

$16.67 $16.67

-0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$6.15 $6.15

-2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.61 $1.61

16.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$4.19 $4.19

2.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$5.34 $5.34

-7.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.00 $3.00

18.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.66 $2.66

18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.46 $2.46

-22.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.67 $2.67

-17.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.44 $11.44

1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$15.05 $15.05

-0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.97 $1.97

28.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$4.30 $4.30

-23.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$3.49 $3.49

-51.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 $45.79

$64.3 $64.3

-28.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.63 $2.63

15.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.66 $1.66

5.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.07 $29.07

$29.97 $29.97

-3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.16 $1.16

6.03%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$33.2K $33.2K

-5.17%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.60%

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

$278 $278

$261 $261

6.70%

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

$65.8 $65.8

$59.9 $59.9

9.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 $60.0

$74.4 $74.4

-19.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.75 $49.75

$48.25 $48.25

3.11%

Cinema Ticket

$13.97 $13.97

$10.90 $10.90

28.17%

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

$1,804 $1,804

$1,449 $1,449

24.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K $15.2K

$29.6K $29.6K

-48.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 $61.4

$52.3 $52.3

17.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.59 $47.59

$53.0 $53.0

-10.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 $99.5

$90.3 $90.3

10.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$99.1 $99.1

53.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,069 $2,069

36.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,074 $2,074

$1,826 $1,826

13.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,163 $4,163

$3,937 $3,937

5.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,101 $4,101

$3,512 $3,512

16.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,616 $7,616

$6,021 $6,021

26.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,557 $6,557

$3,919 $3,919

67.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,719 $5,719

$4,692 $4,692

21.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.45

2.02%

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

Last update for Torrance, CA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kent, WA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,819 in Torrance, CA and $2,069 in Kent, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Torrance, CA pays 22% 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: $86.0 in Torrance, CA vs $79.0 in Kent, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $466 vs $434 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 5% 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 22% 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: $2,819 in Torrance, CA versus $2,069 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 $79.0 versus $86.0 in Torrance, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,517 per month in Torrance, CA versus $3,347 in Kent, WA – a 5% 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 $3,347 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 5% less than in Torrance, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.