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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,367 per month in Monterey, CA vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,002 per month in Monterey, CA vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,638 per month in Monterey, CA vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Monterey, CA is about 6% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Monterey, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Monterey, CA by 151%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.76 $16.76

$24.80 $24.80

-32.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 $66.1

$118 $118

-43.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 $9.31

$13.77 $13.77

-32.39%

Cappuccino

$4.52 $4.52

$5.71 $5.71

-20.84%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.05 $3.05

0.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.50 $2.50

-34.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$7.83 $7.83

-22.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$7.88 $7.88

-43.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

White Bread (500g)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.06 $5.06

-30.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.39 $5.39

-20.04%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$6.85 $6.85

-41.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 $9.49

$25.07 $25.07

-62.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.82 $17.82

$15.85 $15.85

12.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 $13.99

$20.59 $20.59

-32.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$6.14 $6.14

-36.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.82 $2.82

-59.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$5.51 $5.51

-54.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$6.74 $6.74

-67.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.15 $3.15

-38.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.82 $3.82

-43.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.69 $2.69

-32.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.64 $2.64

-27.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.65 $11.65

3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 $16.96

$15.69 $15.69

8.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.93 $2.93

-25.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.24 $4.24

-41.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.82 $2.82

-30.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 $53.8

$100 $100

-46.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.60 $2.60

-39.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.72 $1.72

-47.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$30.22 $30.22

-2.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.19 $1.19

5.88%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$32.7K $32.7K

-26.54%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-5.95%

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

$185 $185

$263 $263

-29.42%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$60.9 $60.9

-16.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 $60.0

$75.9 $75.9

-20.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.97 $42.97

$79.6 $79.6

-46.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.51 $10.51

$39.89 $39.89

-73.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 $12.67

$16.27 $16.27

-22.13%

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

$552 $552

$2,281 $2,281

-75.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K $12.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

-57.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$68.6 $68.6

-1.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 $122

$52.0 $52.0

134.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$116 $116

-16.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$200 $200

$143 $143

39.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 $2,279

$2,336 $2,336

-2.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,961 $1,961

$1,863 $1,863

5.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,707 $3,707

$4,628 $4,628

-19.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,649 $3,649

$3,477 $3,477

4.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,928 $7,928

$7,766 $7,766

2.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,874 $5,874

$5,232 $5,232

12.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,296 $5,296

$6,617 $6,617

-19.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.42

-0.31%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,279 in Monterey, CA versus $2,336 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 25% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $66.0 in Monterey, CA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $547 – making Monterey, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,050 per month in Monterey, CA and $5,397 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,367 in Monterey, CA and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 86% less in Monterey, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,367 in Monterey, CA and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

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 Monterey, CA. 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.