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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 13.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 18.1% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 27.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$25.11 $25.11

0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$118 $118

-15.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.3 $12.3

$13.84 $13.84

-11.13%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.8 $5.8

-2.07%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$2.95 $2.95

-2.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.51 $2.51

-8.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.59 $8.59

$7.81 $7.81

9.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 $9.32

$7.84 $7.84

18.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.34 $1.34

-11.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.98 $4.98

-10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.35 $5.35

-16.07%

Eggs

$7.19 $7.19

$6.91 $6.91

4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$24.8 $24.8

-49.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.7 $13.7

$15.74 $15.74

-12.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$20.84 $20.84

-30.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.05 $6.05

-11.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.75 $2.75

-29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$5.47 $5.47

-27.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.45 $6.45

-11.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.11 $3.11

-4.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.69 $3.69

-33.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.78 $2.78

-34.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.52 $2.52

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.83 $10.83

$11.64 $11.64

-6.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$17.15 $17.15

-10.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.94 $2.94

-13.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.19 $4.19

27.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.8 $2.8

-25.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$101 $101

-19.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.68 $2.68

17.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.65 $1.65

3.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$30.13 $30.13

-3.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.16 $1.16

6.90%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$33.3K $33.3K

-28.45%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.97%

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

$190 $190

$271 $271

-30.02%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$61.8 $61.8

-5.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$75.2 $75.2

-10.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$78.4 $78.4

55.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.73 $44.73

$41.04 $41.04

8.99%

Cinema Ticket

$18.03 $18.03

$15.89 $15.89

13.47%

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

$1,791 $1,791

$2,248 $2,248

-20.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$29K $29K

-49.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 $62.8

$69.5 $69.5

-9.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 $34.08

$52.5 $52.5

-35.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$120 $120

-14.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$142 $142

7.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,279 $3,279

$2,376 $2,376

38.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,892 $2,892

$1,829 $1,829

58.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,850 $6,850

$4,702 $4,702

45.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,897 $5,897

$3,474 $3,474

69.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$6,928 $6,928

55.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,171 $8,171

$5,224 $5,224

56.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,229 $7,229

$6,473 $6,473

11.68%

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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