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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Monterey, CA is 31.1% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 9.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Monterey, CA is 20% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22 $16.22
$25.11 $25.11
-35.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 $64.9
$118 $118
-45.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 $9.45
$13.84 $13.84
-31.72%
Cappuccino
$4.48 $4.48
$5.8 $5.8
-22.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.95 $2.95
7.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.51 $2.51
-35.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$7.81 $7.81
-24.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 $4.44
$7.84 $7.84
-43.37%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.34 $1.34
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 $3.41
$4.98 $4.98
-31.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.35 $5.35
-18.32%
Eggs
$4 $4
$6.91 $6.91
-42.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 $9.38
$24.8 $24.8
-62.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.66 $17.66
$15.74 $15.74
12.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 $14.04
$20.84 $20.84
-32.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$6.05 $6.05
-36.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.75 $2.75
-58.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$5.47 $5.47
-55.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$6.45 $6.45
-65.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$3.11 $3.11
-38.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.69 $3.69
-39.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.78 $2.78
-34.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.52 $2.52
-23.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.16 $12.16
$11.64 $11.64
4.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.28 $17.28
$17.15 $17.15
0.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.94 $2.94
-25.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$4.19 $4.19
-41.77%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.8 $2.8
-27.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53 $53
$101 $101
-47.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.68 $2.68
-41.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.65 $1.65
-46.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.75 $28.75
$30.13 $30.13
-4.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.16 $1.16
5.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$33.3K $33.3K
-27.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-7.90%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$271 $271
-30.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$61.8 $61.8
-16.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$75.2 $75.2
-17.76%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.27 $43.27
$78.4 $78.4
-44.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.52 $10.52
$41.04 $41.04
-74.37%
Cinema Ticket
$12.3 $12.3
$15.89 $15.89
-22.59%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 $570
$2,248 $2,248
-74.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$29K $29K
-56.77%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$69.5 $69.5
-1.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$119 $119
$52.5 $52.5
125.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 $98.5
$120 $120
-17.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 $202
$142 $142
41.68%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,323 $2,323
$2,376 $2,376
-2.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,004 $2,004
$1,829 $1,829
9.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,623 $3,623
$4,702 $4,702
-22.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$3,474 $3,474
5.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,809 $7,809
$6,928 $6,928
12.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,920 $5,920
$5,224 $5,224
13.32%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Monterey, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,380 $4,380
$6,473 $6,473
-32.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
6.42
-0.31%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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