Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Dana Point, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Dana Point, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,365 in Dana Point, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,978 in Dana Point, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $7,591 in Dana Point, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA is about 12% cheaper than Dana Point, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Dana Point, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Dana Point, CA by 218%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$24.54 $24.54

0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$100 $100

-1.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$14.33 $14.33

5.30%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$6.51 $6.51

1.69%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$3.31 $3.31

-5.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.90 $2.90

2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$8.15 $8.15

-0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$9.86 $9.86

-20.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.32 $1.32

-11.36%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.37 $5.37

-3.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.69 $4.69

36.46%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$3.96 $3.96

23.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$15.28 $15.28

40.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$13.19 $13.19

40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$15.67 $15.67

47.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.70 $4.70

23.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.92 $1.92

-2.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.54 $3.54

51.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.96 $4.96

27.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.98 $2.98

27.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.82 $2.82

15.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.95 $1.95

47.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.24 $2.24

20.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.77 $11.77

20.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$17.95 $17.95

-16.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.22 $2.22

96.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.13 $3.13

83.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.95 $1.95

56.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.05 $3.05

-15.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.07 $2.07

-20.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$27.99 $27.99

6.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.31 $1.31

5.34%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

12.42%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.33%

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

$296 $296

$237 $237

25.17%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$71.4 $71.4

-0.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$81.0 $81.0

8.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$41.57 $41.57

95.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

$19.74 $19.74

80.85%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$19.80 $19.80

-7.42%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$1,859 $1,859

65.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$34.5K $34.5K

-11.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$66.8 $66.8

15.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$51.7 $51.7

4.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$114 $114

11.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$151 $151

8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$3,054 $3,054

-20.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$2,825 $2,825

-31.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$5,169 $5,169

-7.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$4,210 $4,210

-14.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,720 $2,720

172.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,361 $2,361

114.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$7,533 $7,533

-16.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.41

0.16%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dana Point, CA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $3,054 in Dana Point, 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 19% higher in Dana Point, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $100 in Dana Point, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $554 in Seattle, WA vs $437 in Dana Point, CA – so Dana Point, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dana Point, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dana Point, CA costs about 14% more than Seattle, 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 $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $6,548 in Dana Point, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, 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 $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $4,365 in Dana Point, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,067 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,859 in Dana Point, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,836 in Seattle, WA and $4,365 in Dana Point, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Seattle, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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