Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 11.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 9.6% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 14.6% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 $22.95
$25.11 $25.11
-8.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.8 $99.8
$118 $118
-15.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.8 $14.8
$13.84 $13.84
6.94%
Cappuccino
$6.07 $6.07
$5.8 $5.8
4.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.95 $2.95
4.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.51 $2.51
3.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 $7.88
$7.81 $7.81
0.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.95 $8.95
$7.84 $7.84
14.16%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.34 $1.34
-5.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.5 $4.5
$4.98 $4.98
-9.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$5.35 $5.35
-17.38%
Eggs
$5.04 $5.04
$6.91 $6.91
-27.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.66 $13.66
$24.8 $24.8
-44.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.77 $12.77
$15.74 $15.74
-18.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.5 $18.5
$20.84 $20.84
-11.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$6.05 $6.05
-23.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.75 $2.75
-37.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.47 $5.47
-28.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$6.45 $6.45
-26.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.11 $3.11
-4.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.69 $3.69
-33.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.78 $2.78
-18.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.52 $2.52
-0.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.2 $12.2
$11.64 $11.64
4.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$17.15 $17.15
-10.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.94 $2.94
-40.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$4.19 $4.19
-39.38%
🚌 Getting Around
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.8 $2.8
-8.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 $72.1
$101 $101
-28.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.68 $2.68
10.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.65 $1.65
25.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.69 $27.69
$30.13 $30.13
-8.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.16 $1.16
8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$33.3K $33.3K
-7.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 $275
$271 $271
1.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67 $67
$61.8 $61.8
8.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1 $79.1
$75.2 $75.2
5.27%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 $66.6
$78.4 $78.4
-15.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.66 $24.66
$41.04 $41.04
-39.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.76 $15.76
$15.89 $15.89
-0.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$2,248 $2,248
-27.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.6K $28.6K
$29K $29K
-1.33%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$69.5 $69.5
-16.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 $58.8
$52.5 $52.5
11.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98 $98
$120 $120
-18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$142 $142
-18.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,808 $2,808
$2,376 $2,376
18.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,412 $2,412
$1,829 $1,829
31.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,005 $5,005
$4,702 $4,702
6.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,128 $4,128
$3,474 $3,474
18.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,534 $9,534
$6,928 $6,928
37.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,940 $6,940
$5,224 $5,224
32.85%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,341 $5,341
$6,473 $6,473
-17.49%
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 San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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