Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Clarita, CA and Issaquah, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Clarita, CA and Issaquah, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,616 per month in Santa Clarita, CA vs $3,179 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,932 per month in Santa Clarita, CA vs $4,581 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,248 per month in Santa Clarita, CA vs $5,983 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

Santa Clarita, CA costs about 14% more than Issaquah, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Santa Clarita, CA and Issaquah, WA sit above the global median – Santa Clarita, CA by 164%, Issaquah, WA by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$24.67 $24.67

-17.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$80.5 $80.5

23.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.26 $13.26

$11.55 $11.55

14.81%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$4.91 $4.91

18.33%

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

$3.14 $3.14

$3.22 $3.22

-2.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.13 $2.13

29.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.15 $7.15

10.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 $8.98

$7.53 $7.53

19.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.44 $1.44

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.90 $4.90

-20.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.96 $5.96

-20.47%

Eggs

$4.99 $4.99

$5.76 $5.76

-13.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 $17.23

$16.26 $16.26

5.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.04 $8.04

$15.67 $15.67

-48.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.86 $16.86

$17.50 $17.50

-3.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$5.84 $5.84

-20.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.25 $2.25

-16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$4.11 $4.11

-26.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$4.53 $4.53

-34.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.32 $2.32

43.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.41 $2.41

9.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.99 $1.99

3.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.18 $3.18

-30.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.53 $11.53

$12.19 $12.19

-5.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.27 $16.27

$19.97 $19.97

-18.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.71 $1.71

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$4.81 $4.81

-32.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.73 $2.73

-10.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.21 $27.21

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.63 $2.63

11.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.70 $1.70

22.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

$30.15 $30.15

-8.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.31 $1.31

-5.34%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$36.6K $36.6K

-37.52%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

-0.43%

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

$250 $250

$231 $231

7.95%

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

$55.3 $55.3

$61.6 $61.6

-10.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.6 $82.6

$84.7 $84.7

-2.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.34 $36.34

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.41 $25.41

Cinema Ticket

$16.80 $16.80

$16.75 $16.75

0.30%

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

$1,986 $1,986

$2,130 $2,130

-6.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.0K $36.0K

$31.7K $31.7K

13.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 $66.4

$61.4 $61.4

8.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.02 $27.02

$44.91 $44.91

-39.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 $71.1

$85.4 $85.4

-16.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$130 $130

-14.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 $2,965

$2,104 $2,104

40.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,264 $2,264

$1,690 $1,690

33.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,859 $3,859

$3,257 $3,257

18.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,092 $3,092

$2,799 $2,799

10.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,740 $3,740

$4,194 $4,194

-10.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,227 $4,227

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,175 $5,175

$6,493 $6,493

-20.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.13

6.1

0.49%

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

Last update for Santa Clarita, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Issaquah, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,965 in Santa Clarita, CA versus $2,104 in Issaquah, 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 25% higher in Issaquah, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Santa Clarita, CA versus $80.0 in Issaquah, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $390 in Santa Clarita, CA vs $488 in Issaquah, WA – so Santa Clarita, 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

Santa Clarita, CA vs Issaquah, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Clarita, CA is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,424 per month in Santa Clarita, CA and $4,769 in Issaquah, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,616 in Santa Clarita, CA and $3,179 in Issaquah, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,986 per month in Santa Clarita, CA and $2,130 in Issaquah, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,616 in Santa Clarita, CA and $3,179 in Issaquah, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

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 Issaquah, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Clarita, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.