Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: El Cajon, CA is 23.1% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: El Cajon, CA is 21.4% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 8.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.68 $19.68
$25.11 $25.11
-21.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.6 $79.6
$118 $118
-32.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.09 $15.09
$13.84 $13.84
9.03%
Cappuccino
$5.17 $5.17
$5.8 $5.8
-10.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.95 $2.95
2.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.51 $2.51
1.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$7.81 $7.81
-8.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$7.84 $7.84
2.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.34 $1.34
-13.43%
White Bread (500g)
$4.3 $4.3
$4.98 $4.98
-13.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$5.35 $5.35
-17.01%
Eggs
$3.9 $3.9
$6.91 $6.91
-43.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.55 $13.55
$24.8 $24.8
-45.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.95 $15.95
$15.74 $15.74
1.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$20.84 $20.84
-24.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$6.05 $6.05
-26.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.75 $2.75
-37.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$5.47 $5.47
-28.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$6.45 $6.45
-26.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.11 $3.11
-0.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$3.69 $3.69
-35.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.78 $2.78
-24.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.52 $2.52
-5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.06 $12.06
$11.64 $11.64
3.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$17.15 $17.15
-10.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.94 $2.94
-38.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.19 $4.19
-39.14%
🚌 Getting Around
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.8 $2.8
-31.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$101 $101
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.68 $2.68
8.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.65 $1.65
4.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.43 $28.43
$30.13 $30.13
-5.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.16 $1.16
7.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$33.3K $33.3K
-24.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
4.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 $155
$271 $271
-42.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$61.8 $61.8
-11.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$75.2 $75.2
-5.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.44 $43.44
$78.4 $78.4
-44.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$15.89 $15.89
-3.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$2,248 $2,248
-33.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.9K $28.9K
$29K $29K
-0.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.79 $46.79
$69.5 $69.5
-32.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.14 $33.14
$52.5 $52.5
-36.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 $99.6
$120 $120
-16.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$142 $142
-29.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,428 $2,428
$2,376 $2,376
2.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,939 $1,939
$1,829 $1,829
6.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,953 $2,953
$4,702 $4,702
-37.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,029 $4,029
$3,474 $3,474
15.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,755 $2,755
$6,928 $6,928
-60.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,148 $2,148
$5,224 $5,224
-58.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Cajon, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,070 $4,070
$6,473 $6,473
-37.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.42
-0.47%

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

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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