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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,574 in Alhambra, CA versus $3,836 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,795 in Alhambra, CA versus $5,763 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,017 in Alhambra, CA versus $7,691 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Alhambra, CA costs roughly 7% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alhambra, CA 160% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.07 $25.07

$24.68 $24.68

1.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$99.1 $99.1

-0.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.52 $11.52

$15.09 $15.09

-23.66%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$6.62 $6.62

-13.14%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$3.13 $3.13

-10.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.98 $2.98

-34.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.12 $8.12

-3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.69 $8.69

$7.85 $7.85

10.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.17 $1.17

14.53%

White Bread (500g)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.20 $5.20

12.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$6.40 $6.40

-33.91%

Eggs

$5.75 $5.75

$4.91 $4.91

17.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$21.46 $21.46

-44.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.23 $16.23

$18.58 $18.58

-12.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 $13.83

$23.05 $23.05

-40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.79 $5.79

-6.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.88 $1.88

-8.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.38 $5.38

-22.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$6.30 $6.30

-9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.80 $3.80

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.26 $3.26

11.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.87 $2.87

-26.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.71 $2.71

-9.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$14.15 $14.15

-17.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.07 $15.07

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$4.36 $4.36

-61.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$5.75 $5.75

-52.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$3.06 $3.06

-44.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 $111

$110 $110

1.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.57 $2.57

24.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.65 $1.65

11.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.75 $32.75

$29.88 $29.88

9.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.38 $1.38

6.52%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$36.4K $36.4K

0.93%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

7.40%

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

$262 $262

$296 $296

-11.68%

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

$71.3 $71.3

0.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$88.0 $88.0

-19.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.68 $19.68

$81.5 $81.5

-75.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.80 $15.80

$35.70 $35.70

-55.74%

Cinema Ticket

$19.53 $19.53

$18.33 $18.33

6.55%

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

$1,761 $1,761

$3,067 $3,067

-42.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$30.6K $30.6K

3.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 $74.8

$77.0 $77.0

-2.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.57 $40.57

$54.0 $54.0

-24.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.6 $81.6

$128 $128

-36.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$165 $165

2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,306 $2,306

$2,418 $2,418

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 $1,922

$1,931 $1,931

-0.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,002 $3,002

$4,756 $4,756

-36.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,467 $2,467

$3,584 $3,584

-31.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,895 $6,895

$7,403 $7,403

-6.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,958 $5,958

$5,056 $5,056

17.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,799 $4,799

$6,320 $6,320

-24.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.42

-5.30%

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

Last update for Alhambra, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,306 in Alhambra, CA and $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA 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: $98.0 in Alhambra, CA vs $99.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $554 per month, with Alhambra, 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

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

Alhambra, CA and Seattle, WA differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($3,574 vs $3,836 including rent). Alhambra, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,306 in Alhambra, CA versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Alhambra, CA – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Alhambra, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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