Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Santa Monica, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Santa Monica, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,177 per month in Aspen, CO vs $4,500 in Santa Monica, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,496 per month in Aspen, CO vs $6,801 in Santa Monica, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,815 per month in Aspen, CO vs $9,103 in Santa Monica, CA, rent included.

Aspen, CO costs about 15% more than Santa Monica, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aspen, CO and Santa Monica, CA sit above the global median – Aspen, CO by 277%, Santa Monica, CA by 228%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$29.93 $29.93

-33.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$118 $118

-33.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 $10.93

$13.99 $13.99

-21.87%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.70 $5.70

-3.86%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$3.45 $3.45

4.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.76 $2.76

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 $6.89

$7.82 $7.82

-11.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$9.97 $9.97

-11.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.33 $1.33

-12.03%

White Bread (500g)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.05 $5.05

11.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.46 $6.46

$4.92 $4.92

31.30%

Eggs

$5.64 $5.64

$6.00 $6.00

-6.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$16.98 $16.98

-31.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$14.02 $14.02

-20.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.98 $17.98

$20.12 $20.12

-10.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.54 $4.54

25.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.90 $1.90

-24.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$4.55 $4.55

36.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.81 $5.81

6.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.28 $3.28

19.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.71 $2.71

35.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.17 $2.17

60.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.14 $2.14

23.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.71 $10.71

$11.80 $11.80

-9.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.05 $17.05

$16.79 $16.79

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.15 $2.15

-14.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.96 $2.96

72.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 $89.8

$66.8 $66.8

34.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.93 $2.93

-15.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.82 $1.82

-22.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.02 $24.02

$27.96 $27.96

-14.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.46 $1.46

-30.14%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$36.5K $36.5K

-4.74%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.59%

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

$150 $150

$256 $256

-41.18%

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

$70.7 $70.7

$74.4 $74.4

-4.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$78.0 $78.0

-5.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$137 $137

$73.3 $73.3

86.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.21 $44.21

Cinema Ticket

$16.46 $16.46

$19.87 $19.87

-17.16%

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

$1,625 $1,625

$1,926 $1,926

-15.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$32.7K $32.7K

-4.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$89.1 $89.1

-23.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.21 $49.21

$56.7 $56.7

-13.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 $90.4

$115 $115

-21.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,116 $4,116

$3,423 $3,423

20.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,601 $3,601

$2,874 $2,874

25.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,940 $7,940

$5,931 $5,931

33.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$6,417 $6,417

$4,992 $4,992

28.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.9K $10.9K

$10.7K $10.7K

2.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,662 $7,662

$8,198 $8,198

-6.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,032 $5,032

$7,139 $7,139

-29.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.09

6.42

-5.14%

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

Last update for Aspen, CO: August 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,116 in Aspen, CO versus $3,423 in Santa Monica, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Santa Monica, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Aspen, CO versus $118 in Santa Monica, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $472 in Aspen, CO vs $470 in Santa Monica, CA – so Santa Monica, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Aspen, CO vs Santa Monica, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aspen, CO costs about 15% more than Santa Monica, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,766 per month in Aspen, CO and $6,750 in Santa Monica, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Monica, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Aspen, CO, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Aspen, CO and $118 in Santa Monica, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $5,177 in Aspen, CO and $4,500 in Santa Monica, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Santa Monica, CA costs $4,500 versus $5,177 in Aspen, CO. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Monica, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aspen, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.