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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Rafael, CA is 4.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 23.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Rafael, CA is 19.4% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 11.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.73 $22.73

$25.11 $25.11

-9.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$118 $118

-45.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$13.84 $13.84

-20.16%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.8 $5.8

-0.52%

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

$2.6 $2.6

$2.95 $2.95

-11.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.51 $2.51

1.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$7.81 $7.81

-23.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.47 $9.47

$7.84 $7.84

20.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.34 $1.34

-5.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.98 $4.98

-20.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$5.35 $5.35

29.16%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$6.91 $6.91

-34.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.52 $15.52

$24.8 $24.8

-37.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$15.74 $15.74

-18.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.39 $18.39

$20.84 $20.84

-11.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$6.05 $6.05

-17.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.75 $2.75

5.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.47 $5.47

12.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$6.45 $6.45

30.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.11 $3.11

20.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.69 $3.69

2.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.78 $2.78

-10.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.52 $2.52

17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 $10.81

$11.64 $11.64

-7.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 $12.59

$17.15 $17.15

-26.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.94 $2.94

-28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.19 $4.19

-16.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.8 $2.8

-45.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.14 $30.14

$101 $101

-70.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.68 $2.68

33.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.66 $28.66

$30.13 $30.13

-4.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.16 $1.16

6.03%

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

$27K $27K

$33.3K $33.3K

-19.08%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

3.06%

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

$187 $187

$271 $271

-31.14%

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

$51.3 $51.3

$61.8 $61.8

-16.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$75.2 $75.2

-18.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$247 $247

$78.4 $78.4

214.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.9 $39.9

$41.04 $41.04

-2.78%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.89 $15.89

-7.43%

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

$1,967 $1,967

$2,248 $2,248

-12.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$29K $29K

-18.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.12 $41.12

$69.5 $69.5

-40.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.89 $37.89

$52.5 $52.5

-27.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$120 $120

-15.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$142 $142

-14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,340 $3,340

$2,376 $2,376

40.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 $2,833

$1,829 $1,829

54.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,080 $4,080

$4,702 $4,702

-13.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,280 $3,280

$3,474 $3,474

-5.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,615 $7,615

$6,928 $6,928

9.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,279 $5,279

$5,224 $5,224

1.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,319 $5,319

$6,473 $6,473

-17.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.42

-1.56%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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