Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Rosa, CA and SeaTac, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Rosa, CA and SeaTac, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,384 per month in Santa Rosa, CA vs $3,122 in SeaTac, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,912 per month in Santa Rosa, CA vs $4,448 in SeaTac, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,439 per month in Santa Rosa, CA vs $5,774 in SeaTac, WA, rent included.

Santa Rosa, CA costs about 8% more than SeaTac, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Santa Rosa, CA and SeaTac, WA sit above the global median – Santa Rosa, CA by 152%, SeaTac, WA by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.42 $22.42

$24.69 $24.69

-9.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$69.7 $69.7

14.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.13 $12.13

$12.31 $12.31

-1.46%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$6.13 $6.13

-18.92%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$3.22 $3.22

-10.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.27 $2.27

23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.35 $7.35

$6.95 $6.95

5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.59 $8.59

$6.06 $6.06

41.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.01 $1.01

19.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.67 $3.67

28.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.33 $4.33

3.23%

Eggs

$5.24 $5.24

$4.73 $4.73

10.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$11.58 $11.58

44.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.51 $10.51

7.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.00 $20.00

$17.81 $17.81

12.30%

Apples (1kg)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.47 $5.47

47.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.58 $1.58

80.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.00 $8.00

$4.90 $4.90

63.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.51 $8.51

$5.33 $5.33

59.66%

Potato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.00 $3.00

35.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.82 $2.82

34.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.55 $2.55

21.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.88 $2.88

-28.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.13 $11.13

6.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

$18.24 $18.24

-35.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.97 $1.97

-7.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$4.77 $4.77

-47.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.79 $2.79

0.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.42 $30.42

$95.5 $95.5

-68.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.66 $2.66

52.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.71 $1.71

14.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.18 $29.18

$29.89 $29.89

-2.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.12 $1.12

18.75%

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

$33.5K $33.5K

$35.6K $35.6K

-5.80%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.8K $26.8K

2.44%

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

$247 $247

$152 $152

62.56%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$60.4 $60.4

-17.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.9 $73.9

$87.5 $87.5

-15.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.9 $64.9

$34.48 $34.48

88.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.17 $15.17

$19.64 $19.64

-22.76%

Cinema Ticket

$14.11 $14.11

$15.20 $15.20

-7.17%

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

$1,835 $1,835

$1,455 $1,455

26.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$32.0K $32.0K

27.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 $59.1

$55.9 $55.9

5.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.67 $42.67

$43.75 $43.75

-2.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$86.0 $86.0

27.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$97.9 $97.9

29.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,290 $2,290

$2,282 $2,282

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 $1,908

$1,758 $1,758

8.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$3,859 $3,859

-1.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,240 $3,240

$2,636 $2,636

22.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,606 $4,606

$4,148 $4,148

11.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,749 $4,749

$3,858 $3,858

23.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,679 $4,679

$6,063 $6,063

-22.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.66

-2.10%

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

Last update for Santa Rosa, CA: June 8, 2026

Last update for SeaTac, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,290 in Santa Rosa, CA versus $2,282 in SeaTac, 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 30% higher in SeaTac, 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 $80.0 in Santa Rosa, CA versus $70.0 in SeaTac, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $491 vs $422 – making SeaTac, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rosa, CA vs SeaTac, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Rosa, CA costs about 8% more than SeaTac, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,076 per month in Santa Rosa, CA and $4,682 in SeaTac, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in SeaTac, 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 $3,384 in Santa Rosa, CA and $3,122 in SeaTac, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 214% less in SeaTac, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,384 in Santa Rosa, CA and $3,122 in SeaTac, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. SeaTac, WA costs $3,122 versus $3,384 in Santa Rosa, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with SeaTac, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Rosa, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.