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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 57% more expensive than Carlsbad, NM without rent, and 45.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 80.2% more expensive than Carlsbad, NM without rent, and 65.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$19.11 $19.11
31.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$49.58 $49.58
138.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$12.15 $12.15
13.91%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$6.1 $6.1
-4.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.06 $2.06
43.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.26 $1.26
99.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.11 $5.11
52.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$6.18 $6.18
26.86%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.89 $0.89
50.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$2.45 $2.45
103.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$1.94 $1.94
175.77%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$3.56 $3.56
94.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$8.09 $8.09
206.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$9.89 $9.89
59.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$12.14 $12.14
71.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$2.96 $2.96
104.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.1 $1.1
150.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.09 $4.09
33.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$2.52 $2.52
155.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.56 $2.56
21.48%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$1.88 $1.88
96.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.29 $2.29
21.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.54 $1.54
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$12.14 $12.14
-4.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$15.21 $15.21
12.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.11 $2.11
39.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.8 $4.8
-12.71%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.03 $2.03
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.62 $1.62
65.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.6 $1.6
3.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$27.44 $27.44
9.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.74 $0.74
56.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$18.6K $18.6K
78.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.47%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$168 $168
61.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$64.8 $64.8
-4.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$63.4 $63.4
18.52%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$42.78 $42.78
83.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$11.58 $11.58
37.22%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$583 $583
285.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$7,058 $7,058
311.13%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$39.92 $39.92
74.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$43.38 $43.38
21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$97 $97
23.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$80.9 $80.9
76.06%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,620 $1,620
46.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,373 $1,373
33.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,585 $2,585
81.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$2,215 $2,215
56.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$2,444 $2,444
183.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$2,140 $2,140
144.13%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Carlsbad, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$4,149 $4,149
56.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
3.25
97.54%

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, NM: October 29, 2025

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