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

😐 Solo nomad: San Francisco, CA is 4.5% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 26% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Francisco, CA is 5% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 14% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.77 $24.77
$25.11 $25.11
-1.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 $131
$118 $118
10.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$13.84 $13.84
6.86%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.8 $5.8
0.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.95 $2.95
11.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.51 $2.51
-1.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.9 $7.9
$7.81 $7.81
1.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12 $8.12
$7.84 $7.84
3.57%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.34 $1.34
9.70%
White Bread (500g)
$5.18 $5.18
$4.98 $4.98
4.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.61 $6.61
$5.35 $5.35
23.55%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$6.91 $6.91
-13.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.1 $23.1
$24.8 $24.8
-6.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.26 $15.26
$15.74 $15.74
-3.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.64 $23.64
$20.84 $20.84
13.44%
Apples (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$6.05 $6.05
14.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.75 $2.75
0.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$5.47 $5.47
-2.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.41 $7.41
$6.45 $6.45
14.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$3.11 $3.11
23.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$3.69 $3.69
4.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.78 $2.78
3.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.52 $2.52
13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06 $14.06
$11.64 $11.64
20.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 $17.87
$17.15 $17.15
4.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.94 $2.94
-10.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.19 $4.19
-21.48%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.8 $2.8
8.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.1 $95.1
$101 $101
-5.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$2.68 $2.68
53.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.65 $1.65
24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.34 $39.34
$30.13 $30.13
30.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.16 $1.16
14.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K $34.7K
$33.3K $33.3K
3.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$271 $271
-17.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.6 $64.6
$61.8 $61.8
4.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$75.2 $75.2
-10.03%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 $100
$78.4 $78.4
27.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.65 $12.65
$41.04 $41.04
-69.18%
Cinema Ticket
$17.04 $17.04
$15.89 $15.89
7.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,218 $3,218
$2,248 $2,248
43.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.1K $38.1K
$29K $29K
31.24%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7 $67.7
$69.5 $69.5
-2.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.18 $45.18
$52.5 $52.5
-13.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$120 $120
-15.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$142 $142
5.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,301 $3,301
$2,376 $2,376
38.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,747 $2,747
$1,829 $1,829
50.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,371 $5,371
$4,702 $4,702
14.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,500 $4,500
$3,474 $3,474
29.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$6,928 $6,928
56.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,649 $9,649
$5,224 $5,224
84.70%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,014 $7,014
$6,473 $6,473
8.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.42
-0.93%

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

Last update for San Francisco, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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