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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in San Dimas, CA vs $3,836 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,319 per month in San Dimas, CA vs $5,763 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,806 per month in San Dimas, CA vs $7,691 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

San Dimas, CA is about 26% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Dimas, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – San Dimas, CA by 106%, Seattle, WA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.82 $24.82

$24.68 $24.68

0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$99.1 $99.1

0.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.02 $9.02

$15.09 $15.09

-40.23%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$6.62 $6.62

-8.31%

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

$3.44 $3.44

$3.13 $3.13

9.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.98 $2.98

3.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.95 $6.95

$8.12 $8.12

-14.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 $7.42

$7.85 $7.85

-5.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.17 $1.17

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.68 $4.68

$5.20 $5.20

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.17 $7.17

$6.40 $6.40

12.03%

Eggs

$5.20 $5.20

$4.91 $4.91

5.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.10 $19.10

$21.46 $21.46

-11.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$18.58 $18.58

-22.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.22 $22.22

$23.05 $23.05

-3.60%

Apples (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$5.79 $5.79

45.08%

Banana (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.88 $1.88

76.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$5.38 $5.38

19.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$6.30 $6.30

61.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.80 $3.80

-23.95%

Onion (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.26 $3.26

48.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.87 $2.87

22.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.56 $11.56

$14.15 $14.15

-18.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.93 $15.93

$15.07 $15.07

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$4.36 $4.36

-47.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.75 $5.75

-19.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.06 $3.06

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.57 $2.57

11.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.65 $1.65

47.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.8 $59.8

$29.88 $29.88

100.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

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

$37.3K $37.3K

$36.4K $36.4K

2.38%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.1K $25.1K

1.63%

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

$253 $253

$296 $296

-14.53%

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

$74.7 $74.7

$71.3 $71.3

4.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$88.0 $88.0

-20.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.22 $41.22

$81.5 $81.5

-49.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$14.19 $14.19

$18.33 $18.33

-22.59%

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

$1,441 $1,441

$3,067 $3,067

-53.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.5K $37.5K

$30.6K $30.6K

22.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.1 $86.1

$77.0 $77.0

11.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.95 $45.95

$54.0 $54.0

-14.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 $78.8

$128 $128

-38.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$165 $165

-16.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 $1,580

$2,418 $2,418

-34.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 $1,309

$1,931 $1,931

-32.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,533 $2,533

$4,756 $4,756

-46.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 $2,151

$3,584 $3,584

-40.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,804 $2,804

$7,403 $7,403

-62.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,433 $2,433

$5,056 $5,056

-51.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,995 $3,995

$6,320 $6,320

-36.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.42

-2.80%

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

Last update for San Dimas, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,580 in San Dimas, CA versus $2,418 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 58% 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 $99.0 in San Dimas, CA versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $563 in San Dimas, CA vs $554 in Seattle, WA – so Seattle, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,831 in San Dimas, CA, $3,836 in Seattle, WA – roughly 35% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in San Dimas, CA and $5,754 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in San Dimas, CA and $99.0 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Seattle, WA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,831 in San Dimas, CA and $3,836 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,831 in San Dimas, CA to $3,836 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 San Dimas, 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.