Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in California, MD: $2,616 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in California, MD
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California, MD Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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California, MD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,616

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,782

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in California, MD and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in California, MD and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,616 per month in California, MD vs $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

California, MD $2,616
Seattle, WA $3,782

A couple spends around $3,733 per month in California, MD vs $5,636 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

California, MD $3,733
Seattle, WA $5,636

A family of three spends $4,849 per month in California, MD vs $7,489 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

California, MD $4,849
Seattle, WA $7,489

California, MD is about 31% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both California, MD and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – California, MD by 93%, Seattle, WA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.81 $24.81

$24.52 $24.52

1.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$98.2 $98.2

-23.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 $9.93

$14.79 $14.79

-32.86%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$6.52 $6.52

-8.28%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$3.23 $3.23

-15.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.17 $3.17

-23.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$7.85 $7.85

-35.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$8.03 $8.03

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.21 $1.21

-17.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$5.14 $5.14

-25.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$6.05 $6.05

-64.13%

Eggs

$3.97 $3.97

$4.88 $4.88

-18.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 $11.81

$19.18 $19.18

-38.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$18.91 $18.91

-22.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$23.31 $23.31

-43.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.99 $5.99

-27.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.93 $1.93

14.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.25 $5.25

-16.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$6.57 $6.57

1.98%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.62 $3.62

20.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.31 $3.31

19.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.78 $2.78

-29.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.51 $2.51

-19.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$12.18 $12.18

-27.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 $14.05

$14.83 $14.83

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$4.22 $4.22

-60.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 $4.80

$5.77 $5.77

-16.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.95 $2.95

-26.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.4 $81.4

$106 $106

-23.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.65 $2.65

15.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.72 $1.72

-18.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.46 $22.46

$29.72 $29.72

-24.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.49 $1.49

-36.91%

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

$33.5K $33.5K

$35.9K $35.9K

-6.78%

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

$23.1K $23.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-12.08%

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

$98.2 $98.2

$302 $302

-67.46%

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

$41.44 $41.44

$70.1 $70.1

-40.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$85.3 $85.3

-27.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.40 $39.40

$77.8 $77.8

-49.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.91 $10.91

$34.58 $34.58

-68.45%

Cinema Ticket

$18.19 $18.19

$17.84 $17.84

1.96%

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

$1,875 $1,875

$2,973 $2,973

-36.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

1.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$76.6 $76.6

-29.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.77 $47.77

$54.1 $54.1

-11.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$128 $128

-33.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$164 $164

-34.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,693 $1,693

$2,445 $2,445

-30.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$1,947 $1,947

-31.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,793 $1,793

$4,744 $4,744

-62.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$3,469 $3,469

-45.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,716 $6,716

$7,367 $7,367

-8.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,236 $6,236

$5,127 $5,127

21.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,062 $7,062

$6,506 $6,506

8.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.89

-7.11%

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

Last update for California, MD: October 18, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

California, MD

$1.3K 51.2%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.5% 45.5% $608

Groceries & Markets

California, MD

$406 15.5%

Seattle, WA

$546 14.4% 34.4% $140

Eating Out

California, MD

$362 13.8%

Seattle, WA

$400 10.6% 10.5% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

California, MD

$202 7.7%

Seattle, WA

$457 12.1% 127% $256

Clothing & Footwear

California, MD

$133 5.1%

Seattle, WA

$190 5% 43.4% $58

Getting Around

California, MD

$100 3.8%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 29.1% $29

Sport & Entertainment

California, MD

$76 2.9%

Seattle, WA

$114 3% 49.8% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,693 in California, MD versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. 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 9% higher in California, MD, 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 $75.0 in California, MD versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $546 – making California, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 California, MD

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

22:34 10:34 PM

19:34 7:34 PM

3 h behind California, MD

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

13,000

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

California, MD Seattle, WA 3,810 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

California, MD
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

California, MD vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 45%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,925 per month in California, MD and $5,673 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 34% more in Seattle, WA, 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 $75.0 in California, MD and $98.0 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,616 in California, MD and $3,782 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward California, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with California, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.