Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Aspen, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Aspen, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,542 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $2,859 in Aspen, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,988 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $4,234 in Aspen, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,433 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $5,608 in Aspen, CO, rent included.

Santa Monica, CA costs about 59% more than Aspen, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santa Monica, CA and Aspen, CO sit above the global median – Santa Monica, CA by 240%, Aspen, CO by 114%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.58 $24.58

$24.67 $24.67

-0.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.3 $98.3

$69.6 $69.6

41.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$11.21 $11.21

10.17%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.94 $5.94

-4.38%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$3.55 $3.55

-16.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.72 $2.72

-14.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.58 $8.58

$7.93 $7.93

8.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.22 $9.22

$8.17 $8.17

12.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.22 $1.22

1.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 $4.50

$5.28 $5.28

-14.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$6.80 $6.80

-36.32%

Eggs

$7.20 $7.20

$5.74 $5.74

25.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 $12.54

$13.15 $13.15

-4.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.87 $13.87

$16.89 $16.89

-17.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$16.94 $16.94

-13.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$5.39 $5.39

2.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.46 $1.46

32.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$6.19 $6.19

-35.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$6.14 $6.14

-6.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.11 $4.11

-25.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.82 $3.82

-36.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.06 $3.06

-36.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.58 $2.58

-17.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 $11.03

$12.05 $12.05

-8.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$17.14 $17.14

-12.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.88 $1.88

39.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 $5.33

$2.93 $2.93

81.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.49 $3.49

-40.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.8 $80.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.46 $2.46

25.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.43 $1.43

18.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.83 $28.83

$23.96 $23.96

20.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.82 $0.82

57.32%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$35.1K $35.1K

-31.10%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.52%

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

$191 $191

$147 $147

29.98%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$59.8 $59.8

-2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 $66.7

$72.4 $72.4

-7.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 $119

$133 $133

-10.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.25 $45.25

Cinema Ticket

$18.26 $18.26

$16.57 $16.57

10.20%

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

$1,768 $1,768

$1,440 $1,440

22.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K $14.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

-52.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 $62.5

$73.5 $73.5

-14.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.53 $34.53

$48.51 $48.51

-28.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$93.6 $93.6

9.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$145 $145

3.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,294 $3,294

$2,558 $2,558

28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,914 $2,914

$1,327 $1,327

119.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,874 $6,874

$2,613 $2,613

163.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,902 $5,902

$2,210 $2,210

167.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.5K $10.5K

$10.8K $10.8K

-3.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,920 $7,920

$7,659 $7,659

3.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,934 $6,934

$4,961 $4,961

39.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.42

1.09%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Aspen, CO: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,294 in Santa Monica, CA versus $2,558 in Aspen, CO. 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 40% higher in Santa Monica, 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 $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA versus $70.0 in Aspen, CO. Groceries tell a different story – $440 in Santa Monica, CA vs $494 in Aspen, CO – so Santa Monica, 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 Monica, CA vs Aspen, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Monica, CA costs about 59% more than Aspen, CO, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,813 per month in Santa Monica, CA and $4,289 in Aspen, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA and $70.0 in Aspen, CO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Santa Monica, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,542 in Santa Monica, CA and $2,859 in Aspen, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aspen, CO costs $2,859 versus $4,542 in Santa Monica, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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