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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,463 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $3,836 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,812 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $5,763 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,161 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $7,691 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

San Francisco, CA costs about 16% more than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – San Francisco, CA by 225%, Seattle, WA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.72 $24.72

$24.68 $24.68

0.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$99.1 $99.1

21.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 $15.27

$15.09 $15.09

1.19%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$6.62 $6.62

-12.54%

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

$3.18 $3.18

$3.13 $3.13

1.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.98 $2.98

-7.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$8.12 $8.12

-1.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$7.85 $7.85

11.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.17 $1.17

47.86%

White Bread (500g)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.20 $5.20

13.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$6.40 $6.40

-19.53%

Eggs

$5.19 $5.19

$4.91 $4.91

5.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 $17.23

$21.46 $21.46

-19.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.46 $16.46

$18.58 $18.58

-11.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.66 $23.66

$23.05 $23.05

2.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$5.79 $5.79

15.03%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.88 $1.88

60.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$5.38 $5.38

-12.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.30 $6.30

13.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.80 $3.80

-17.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.26 $3.26

19.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.87 $2.87

6.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.71 $2.71

5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$14.15 $14.15

-14.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.07 $15.07

1.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.36 $4.36

-24.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.75 $5.75

-40.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.06 $3.06

-0.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.4 $91.4

$110 $110

-16.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.57 $2.57

58.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.65 $1.65

25.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.35 $38.35

$29.88 $29.88

28.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.38 $1.38

7.25%

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

$37.3K $37.3K

$36.4K $36.4K

2.32%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

2.31%

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

$247 $247

$296 $296

-16.70%

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

$64.2 $64.2

$71.3 $71.3

-9.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.5 $77.5

$88.0 $88.0

-11.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$132 $132

$81.5 $81.5

61.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.24 $22.24

$35.70 $35.70

-37.70%

Cinema Ticket

$17.76 $17.76

$18.33 $18.33

-3.11%

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

$2,872 $2,872

$3,067 $3,067

-6.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.2K $41.2K

$30.6K $30.6K

34.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 $81.2

$77.0 $77.0

5.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 $54.9

$54.0 $54.0

1.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$128 $128

-16.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$165 $165

-5.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,768 $3,768

$2,418 $2,418

55.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 $2,660

$1,931 $1,931

37.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,137 $6,137

$4,756 $4,756

29.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,015 $5,015

$3,584 $3,584

39.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

$7,403 $7,403

43.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,549 $9,549

$5,056 $5,056

88.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,663 $6,663

$6,320 $6,320

5.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.42

1.25%

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

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,768 in San Francisco, 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 5% higher in San Francisco, CA, 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 $121 in San Francisco, CA versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $546 in San Francisco, CA vs $554 in Seattle, WA – so San Francisco, CA 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 Francisco, CA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Francisco, CA is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,695 per month in San Francisco, 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 Seattle, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in San Francisco, CA and $99.0 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,463 in San Francisco, CA and $3,836 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

If budget matters most, go with Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Francisco, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.