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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Salinas, CA is 15.7% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Salinas, CA is 18.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 5.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.69 $29.69
$25.11 $25.11
18.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.1 $89.1
$118 $118
-24.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$13.84 $13.84
-13.01%
Cappuccino
$4.9 $4.9
$5.8 $5.8
-15.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.95 $2.95
-9.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.51 $2.51
-14.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.86 $7.86
$7.81 $7.81
0.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.84 $7.84
-
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.34 $1.34
8.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$4.98 $4.98
-28.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$5.35 $5.35
18.88%
Eggs
$5.55 $5.55
$6.91 $6.91
-19.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21 $21
$24.8 $24.8
-15.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.16 $13.16
$15.74 $15.74
-16.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.74 $16.74
$20.84 $20.84
-19.67%
Apples (1kg)
$6 $6
$6.05 $6.05
-0.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.75 $2.75
-21.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$5.47 $5.47
-34.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$6.45 $6.45
-6.05%
Potato (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$3.11 $3.11
43.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.69 $3.69
-8.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.78 $2.78
-21.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.52 $2.52
-25.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.09 $11.09
$11.64 $11.64
-4.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.18 $10.18
$17.15 $17.15
-40.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.94 $2.94
-42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.19 $4.19
27.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.8 $2.8
-30.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.8 $68.8
$101 $101
-31.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.68 $2.68
28.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.65 $1.65
13.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.24 $40.24
$30.13 $30.13
33.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.16 $1.16
12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$33.3K $33.3K
-27.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$277 $277
$271 $271
2.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$61.8 $61.8
-14.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6 $72.6
$75.2 $75.2
-3.48%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.6 $39.6
$78.4 $78.4
-49.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.31 $14.31
$15.89 $15.89
-9.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,968 $1,968
$2,248 $2,248
-12.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.3K $38.3K
$29K $29K
32.07%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1 $56.1
$69.5 $69.5
-19.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.8 $37.8
$52.5 $52.5
-28.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 $92.3
$120 $120
-22.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$142 $142
-11.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$2,376 $2,376
-7.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,164 $2,164
$1,829 $1,829
18.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,186 $4,186
$4,702 $4,702
-10.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,806 $3,806
$3,474 $3,474
9.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,778 $2,778
$6,928 $6,928
-59.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,415 $2,415
$5,224 $5,224
-53.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Salinas, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,905 $4,905
$6,473 $6,473
-24.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.41
6.42
-0.16%

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

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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