Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Seattle, WA: $3,785 a month against $4,001 in Irvine, CA, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Irvine, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

192

Cost of Living Index in Irvine, CA
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Irvine, CA Living Index
184

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

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Irvine, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,001

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Irvine, CA 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 Irvine, CA and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,001 per month in Irvine, CA vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Irvine, CA $4,001
Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $5,760 per month in Irvine, CA vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Irvine, CA $5,760
Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $7,519 per month in Irvine, CA vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Irvine, CA $7,519
Seattle, WA $7,592

Irvine, CA costs about 6% more than Seattle, WA.

Both Irvine, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Irvine, CA by 194%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.39 $25.39

$25.30 $25.30

0.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

0.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.49 $11.49

$14.76 $14.76

-22.15%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.50 $6.50

-12.15%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$3.21 $3.21

-12.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.14 $3.14

-35.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$7.97 $7.97

3.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.88 $9.88

$8.13 $8.13

21.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.17 $1.17

1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$5.71 $5.71

$5.30 $5.30

7.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$6.40 $6.40

-33.13%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 $12.56

$18.71 $18.71

-32.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.26 $20.26

$18.72 $18.72

8.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$22.88 $22.88

-39.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$6.06 $6.06

-9.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.95 $1.95

-11.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$5.51 $5.51

-22.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.68 $6.68

$6.52 $6.52

2.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.49 $3.49

1.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.29 $3.29

9.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.80 $2.80

-17.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.58 $2.58

-14.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.81 $11.81

$12.49 $12.49

-5.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.87 $14.87

-1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$4.19 $4.19

-58.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.80 $5.80

-45.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.05 $3.05

-36.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.8 $71.8

$106 $106

-32.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.58 $2.58

73.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.64 $1.64

12.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.43 $35.43

$30.12 $30.12

17.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.41 $1.41

7.09%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$36.8K $36.8K

-24.12%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

0.87%

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

$212 $212

$308 $308

-31.00%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$69.2 $69.2

1.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 $68.9

$86.1 $86.1

-19.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.15 $38.15

$76.5 $76.5

-50.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$35.50 $35.50

-63.15%

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 $12.10

$18.02 $18.02

-32.85%

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

$1,897 $1,897

$2,746 $2,746

-30.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.3K $42.3K

$30.6K $30.6K

38.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.7 $72.7

$79.2 $79.2

-8.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.09 $41.09

$54.3 $54.3

-24.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 $81.5

$127 $127

-35.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$168 $168

$159 $159

5.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,356 $3,356

$2,508 $2,508

33.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$1,938 $1,938

27.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,294 $5,294

$5,117 $5,117

3.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,024 $4,024

$3,542 $3,542

13.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,053 $9,053

$7,374 $7,374

22.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,007 $8,007

$5,002 $5,002

60.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,741 $6,741

$6,470 $6,470

4.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.89

-3.63%

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

Last update for Irvine, CA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Irvine, CA

$2.5K 61.8%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 21.6% $533

Groceries & Markets

Irvine, CA

$473 11.8%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 15.6% $74

Eating Out

Irvine, CA

$386 9.7%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 5.1% $20

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Irvine, CA

$351 8.8%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 31.7% $111

Clothing & Footwear

Irvine, CA

$163 4.1%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 15.5% $25

Getting Around

Irvine, CA

$93 2.3%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 38.2% $36

Sport & Entertainment

Irvine, CA

$62 1.6%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 80.4% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,356 in Irvine, CA versus $2,508 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 4% higher in Irvine, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Irvine, CA versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $547 – making Irvine, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Irvine, CA

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

19:51 7:51 PM

Same time as Irvine, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

209,716

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Irvine, CA Seattle, WA 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Irvine, CA
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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,002 per month in Irvine, CA and $5,677 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, WA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,508 there versus $3,356 in Irvine, CA.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,001 in Irvine, CA and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. That makes Seattle, WA about 5% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $1,897 per month in Irvine, CA and $2,746 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,001 in Irvine, CA and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Seattle, WA costs $3,785 versus $4,001 in Irvine, CA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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