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 5.4% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 29.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Francisco, CA is 1.7% more expensive than Seattle, WA without rent, and 16.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.34 $25.34
$25.25 $25.25
0.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 $131
$120 $120
8.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.87 $14.87
$13.79 $13.79
7.83%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.61 $5.61
4.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.00 $3.00
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.50 $2.50
3.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$7.85 $7.85
2.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$7.92 $7.92
0.25%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.36 $1.36
11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$4.95 $4.95
$4.86 $4.86
1.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.89 $6.89
$5.31 $5.31
29.76%
Eggs
$6.24 $6.24
$6.61 $6.61
-5.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.28 $23.28
$24.48 $24.48
-4.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.99 $14.99
$16.02 $16.02
-6.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.59 $23.59
$20.57 $20.57
14.68%
Apples (1kg)
$7.10 $7.10
$6.10 $6.10
16.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.88 $2.88
-1.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$5.57 $5.57
-6.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.51 $7.51
$6.74 $6.74
11.42%
Potato (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.20 $3.20
18.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.79 $3.79
2.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.72 $2.72
4.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.62 $2.62
8.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.02 $14.02
$11.71 $11.71
19.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.17 $18.17
$15.81 $15.81
14.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.85 $2.85
-7.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$4.38 $4.38
-27.40%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.09 $3.09
$2.69 $2.69
14.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.2 $93.2
$98.9 $98.9
-5.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$2.63 $2.63
55.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.65 $1.65
24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.49 $38.49
$29.86 $29.86
28.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.14 $1.14
10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$32.6K $32.6K
7.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$26.4K $26.4K
-1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$264 $264
-17.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.0 $64.0
$60.6 $60.6
5.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$76.1 $76.1
-12.65%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$99.5 $99.5
$78.0 $78.0
27.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.57 $12.57
$40.01 $40.01
-68.58%
Cinema Ticket
$16.68 $16.68
$16.19 $16.19
3.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,190 $3,190
$2,253 $2,253
41.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.2K $38.2K
$29.7K $29.7K
28.39%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7 $67.7
$70.5 $70.5
-3.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.41 $46.41
$51.8 $51.8
-10.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 $99.5
$119 $119
-16.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 $149
$143 $143
4.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,389 $3,389
$2,381 $2,381
42.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,781 $2,781
$1,887 $1,887
47.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,473 $5,473
$4,752 $4,752
15.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,468 $4,468
$3,585 $3,585
24.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.1K $11.1K
$7,850 $7,850
41.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,550 $9,550
$5,213 $5,213
83.18%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,146 $7,146
$6,446 $6,446
10.86%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 13, 2026

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

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