Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Maria, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Maria, CA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Maria, CA is 39.4% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 12.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 44.8% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 26% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.18 $20.18
$25.11 $25.11
-19.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 $68.9
$118 $118
-41.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 $11.29
$13.84 $13.84
-18.42%
Cappuccino
$4.76 $4.76
$5.8 $5.8
-17.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.95 $2.95
-16.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.51 $2.51
-19.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$7.81 $7.81
-21.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16 $8.16
$7.84 $7.84
4.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.34 $1.34
-27.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 $2.72
$4.98 $4.98
-45.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$5.35 $5.35
-11.03%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$6.91 $6.91
-48.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.26 $10.26
$24.8 $24.8
-58.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 $8.37
$15.74 $15.74
-46.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.21 $17.21
$20.84 $20.84
-17.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$6.05 $6.05
-37.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.75 $2.75
-37.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$5.47 $5.47
-36.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$6.45 $6.45
-49.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.11 $3.11
-1.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$3.69 $3.69
-43.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.78 $2.78
-35.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 $1.31
$2.52 $2.52
-48.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11 $11
$11.64 $11.64
-5.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$17.15 $17.15
-11.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.94 $2.94
-41.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.19 $4.19
-21.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.8 $2.8
-30.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$101 $101
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.68 $2.68
30.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.65 $1.65
9.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.6 $24.6
$30.13 $30.13
-18.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.16 $1.16
6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K $36.8K
$33.3K $33.3K
10.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
11.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 $166
$271 $271
-38.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$61.8 $61.8
-17.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.4 $85.4
$75.2 $75.2
13.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.52 $43.52
$78.4 $78.4
-44.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.04 $41.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.55 $14.55
$15.89 $15.89
-8.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$992 $992
$2,248 $2,248
-55.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K $12.9K
$29K $29K
-55.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 $55.2
$69.5 $69.5
-20.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.73 $39.73
$52.5 $52.5
-24.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73 $73
$120 $120
-38.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 $78.1
$142 $142
-45.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,376 $2,376
-5.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,829 $1,829
12.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,376 $3,376
$4,702 $4,702
-28.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,138 $3,138
$3,474 $3,474
-9.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,992 $7,992
$6,928 $6,928
15.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,900 $7,900
$5,224 $5,224
51.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Maria, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,387 $4,387
$6,473 $6,473
-32.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.42
1.40%

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

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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