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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,181 per month in SeaTac, WA vs $3,426 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,483 per month in SeaTac, WA vs $5,046 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,786 per month in SeaTac, WA vs $6,667 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

SeaTac, WA is about 7% cheaper than Santa Rosa, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both SeaTac, WA and Santa Rosa, CA sit above the global median – SeaTac, WA by 132%, Santa Rosa, CA by 149%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.06 $25.06

$27.48 $27.48

-8.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$88.6 $88.6

-10.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$12.10 $12.10

0.41%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$6.34 $6.34

-12.93%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.54 $3.54

-12.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.31 $3.31

-35.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 $4.03

$7.83 $7.83

-48.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

$8.36 $8.36

-27.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.42 $1.42

-23.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 $4.20

$4.23 $4.23

-0.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.81 $4.81

-30.56%

Eggs

$7.12 $7.12

$5.33 $5.33

33.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.70 $14.70

$20.53 $20.53

-28.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.05 $14.05

$14.42 $14.42

-2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.36 $17.36

$20.59 $20.59

-15.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.02 $5.02

8.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.72 $2.72

-38.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$8.03 $8.03

-49.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$6.99 $6.99

-34.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.77 $3.77

-40.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.56 $3.56

-17.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.05 $3.05

-36.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.73 $1.73

82.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.20 $12.20

$11.82 $11.82

3.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.71 $22.71

$11.82 $11.82

92.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.79 $1.79

-4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.38 $2.38

-17.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.09 $2.09

33.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.1 $94.1

$39.35 $39.35

139.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.95 $3.95

-33.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.94 $1.94

-10.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.43 $30.43

$28.94 $28.94

5.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.39 $1.39

-7.91%

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

$37.3K $37.3K

$36.8K $36.8K

1.40%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$27.2K $27.2K

1.14%

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

$233 $233

$185 $185

26.05%

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

$62.0 $62.0

$50.3 $50.3

23.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.6 $82.6

$71.2 $71.2

16.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.57 $34.57

$69.3 $69.3

-50.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.63 $19.63

$14.13 $14.13

38.92%

Cinema Ticket

$18.21 $18.21

$14.28 $14.28

27.52%

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

$2,078 $2,078

$1,262 $1,262

64.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.5K $31.5K

$40.2K $40.2K

-21.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 $62.2

$49.13 $49.13

26.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.96 $44.96

$41.29 $41.29

8.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 $62.6

$109 $109

-42.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.07 $46.07

$127 $127

-63.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$2,342 $2,342

-3.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 $1,762

$1,887 $1,887

-6.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,955 $3,955

$3,669 $3,669

7.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,688 $2,688

$3,079 $3,079

-12.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 $4,046

$4,701 $4,701

-13.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 $3,934

$4,810 $4,810

-18.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,990 $5,990

$4,614 $4,614

29.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.12

-0.33%

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

Last update for SeaTac, WA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,263 in SeaTac, WA versus $2,342 in Santa Rosa, CA. 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 SeaTac, WA versus $89.0 in Santa Rosa, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $454 vs $490 – 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

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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,771 per month in SeaTac, WA and $5,139 in Santa Rosa, CA. 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 $3,181 in SeaTac, WA and $3,426 in Santa Rosa, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 139% 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 $3,181 in SeaTac, WA and $3,426 in Santa Rosa, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. SeaTac, WA costs $3,181 versus $3,426 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.