San Jose vs Seattle
San Jose, CA · Seattle, WA
Seattle is 21% cheaper than San Jose overall.
Home Price
San: $1,350,000
Seattle: $780,000
Monthly Rent
San: $2,195/mo
Seattle: $1,800/mo
COL Index
San: 198
Seattle: 156
Median Income
San: $137,200
Seattle: $102,900
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in San Jose has the same purchasing power as $78,788 in Seattle — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Seattle cost 42% more (-$570,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Seattle saves you $395/month — $4,740 per year. Median rent: $2,195/mo in San Jose vs $1,800/mo in Seattle.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, San Jose owners pay roughly $9,180/year in property taxes vs $7,176/year in Seattle. That's a $2,004 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $137,200 in San Jose and $102,900 in Seattle. Seattle residents earn 25% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in San Jose vs 30 minutes in Seattle. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from San Jose to Seattle, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in San Jose | Equivalent in Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,394 | -$10,606 |
| $75,000 | $59,091 | -$15,909 |
| $100,000 | $78,788 | -$21,212 |
| $150,000 | $118,182 | -$31,818 |
| $200,000 | $157,576 | -$42,424 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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San Jose Calculators
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Related Comparisons
San Jose vs Seattle: Common Questions
Is San Jose or Seattle cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Seattle is cheaper overall. San Jose has a COL index of 198 while Seattle scores 156 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between San Jose and Seattle?
The median home price in San Jose is $1,350,000 vs $780,000 in Seattle — a difference of $570,000 (42%).
What salary do I need in Seattle to match my San Jose income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in San Jose is equivalent to $78,788 in Seattle in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
San Jose has a lower property tax rate (0.68% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $7,176/year vs $9,180/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.