Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Aliso Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Aliso Viejo, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $3,881 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $5,580 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $7,280 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA costs roughly 6% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Aliso Viejo, CA 190% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$25.43 $25.43

-0.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$101 $101

19.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$11.22 $11.22

25.76%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.50 $5.50

5.82%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.99 $2.99

-0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.34 $2.34

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$8.55 $8.55

-9.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$9.02 $9.02

-12.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.20 $1.20

11.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.32 $4.32

13.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.75 $4.75

8.21%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.38 $4.38

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.40 $12.40

98.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.34 $11.34

40.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$14.48 $14.48

39.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.53 $6.53

-3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.86 $1.86

53.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$3.78 $3.78

39.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.83 $4.83

32.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.97 $2.97

8.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.56 $2.56

49.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.90 $1.90

44.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.09 $2.09

23.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$10.66 $10.66

9.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.09 $15.09

4.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.76 $1.76

63.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.17 $3.17

38.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.03 $3.03

-8.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.02 $4.02

-33.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.00 $2.00

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.65 $29.65

0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.24 $1.24

-8.06%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$28.9K $28.9K

13.85%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.44%

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

$268 $268

$182 $182

47.13%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$54.6 $54.6

11.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$71.6 $71.6

6.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$50.4 $50.4

54.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$18.28 $18.28

-13.46%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,760 $1,760

27.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$24.2K $24.2K

22.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$61.2 $61.2

15.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$46.85 $46.85

13.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$98.9 $98.9

18.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$149 $149

-7.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$2,855 $2,855

-19.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$2,478 $2,478

-25.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$4,046 $4,046

17.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$4,173 $4,173

-14.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$7,206 $7,206

7.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$6,539 $6,539

-18.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$7,862 $7,862

-16.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $2,855 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in Aliso Viejo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $404 per month, with Aliso Viejo, CA cheaper across the board.

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

Seattle, WA vs Aliso Viejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Aliso Viejo, CA differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $3,881 including rent). Seattle, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Aliso Viejo, CA earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $2,855 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Aliso Viejo, CA pay roughly 33% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,881 in Aliso Viejo, CA – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Aliso Viejo, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.