Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Carlsbad, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Carlsbad, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 26.1% more expensive than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 0.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 28% more expensive than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$19.84 $19.84
26.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$82.3 $82.3
43.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$11.92 $11.92
16.11%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.02 $5.02
15.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.72 $2.72
8.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.97 $1.97
27.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$6.8 $6.8
14.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.02 $7.02
11.68%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.11 $1.11
20.72%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.12 $4.12
20.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.01 $4.01
33.42%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$5.65 $5.65
22.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$10.8 $10.8
129.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$8.32 $8.32
89.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$14.6 $14.6
42.74%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$3.37 $3.37
79.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.72 $1.72
59.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$2.82 $2.82
93.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$5.68 $5.68
13.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.66 $3.66
-15.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.21 $3.21
14.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.4 $1.4
98.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.09 $2.09
20.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$10.95 $10.95
6.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$15.07 $15.07
13.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.47 $1.47
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.2 $1.2
249.17%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$178 $178
-43.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$9.94 $9.94
-73.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.71 $1.71
-3.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$34.91 $34.91
-13.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.24 $1.24
-6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$24.3K $24.3K
37.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.1K $24.1K
9.03%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$241 $241
12.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$46.27 $46.27
33.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$60.2 $60.2
24.95%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$84.4 $84.4
-7.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$32.38 $32.38
26.74%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$20.93 $20.93
-24.08%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,187 $1,187
89.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$23.1K $23.1K
25.72%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$53.2 $53.2
30.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$24.3 $24.3
116.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$76.6 $76.6
56.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$84.8 $84.8
67.86%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,628 $2,628
-9.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$2,220 $2,220
-17.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$4,364 $4,364
7.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$3,508 $3,508
-0.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$6,959 $6,959
-0.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$6,253 $6,253
-16.45%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$6,553 $6,553
-1.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
5.97
7.54%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: October 28, 2025

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