Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and El Cajon, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and El Cajon, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 30.1% more expensive than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 11.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 27.2% more expensive than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$19.68 $19.68

27.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$79.6 $79.6

48.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$15.09 $15.09

-8.28%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.17 $5.17

12.19%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$3.02 $3.02

-2.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.55 $2.55

-1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$7.13 $7.13

9.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.07 $8.07

-2.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.16 $1.16

15.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.3 $4.3

15.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.44 $4.44

20.50%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$3.9 $3.9

77.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$13.55 $13.55

83.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.95 $15.95

-1.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$15.72 $15.72

32.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.44 $4.44

36.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.71 $1.71

60.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$3.91 $3.91

39.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.77 $4.77

35.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.08 $3.08

0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.37 $2.37

55.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.1 $2.1

32.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.37 $2.37

6.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$12.06 $12.06

-3.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$15.29 $15.29

12.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.81 $1.81

62.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.55 $2.55

64.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$1.93 $1.93

45.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.92 $2.92

-8.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.72 $1.72

-4.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$28.43 $28.43

5.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.25 $1.25

-7.20%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

31.79%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.5K $27.5K

-4.32%

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

$271 $271

$155 $155

74.47%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$54.9 $54.9

12.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$71.1 $71.1

5.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$43.44 $43.44

80.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$15.29 $15.29

3.92%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,500 $1,500

49.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$28.9K $28.9K

0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$46.79 $46.79

48.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$33.14 $33.14

58.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$99.6 $99.6

19.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$101 $101

41.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$2,428 $2,428

-2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,939 $1,939

-5.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$2,953 $2,953

59.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$4,029 $4,029

-13.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$2,755 $2,755

151.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$2,148 $2,148

143.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$4,070 $4,070

59.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.39

0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

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