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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,460 in Fontana, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,199 in Fontana, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,938 in Fontana, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 6% more than Fontana, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fontana, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Fontana, CA by 158%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$17.84 $17.84

41.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$80.8 $80.8

49.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$12.18 $12.18

15.85%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.11 $5.11

13.89%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.82 $2.82

5.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.28 $2.28

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$7.05 $7.05

9.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.90 $6.90

14.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.17 $1.17

14.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.00 $4.00

22.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.72 $4.72

8.90%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.95 $4.95

32.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$11.98 $11.98

105.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$16.31 $16.31

-2.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.66 $15.66

28.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.42 $4.42

41.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.94 $1.94

47.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.50 $4.50

17.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.61 $5.61

13.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$4.44 $4.44

-27.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.19 $3.19

20.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.44 $1.44

90.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.18 $2.18

18.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.05 $11.05

5.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.99 $15.99

-1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.01 $2.01

43.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.55 $3.55

23.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.06 $2.06

33.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$45.63 $45.63

116.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$6.65 $6.65

-59.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$4.39 $4.39

-61.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$29.76 $29.76

-0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.23 $1.23

-7.32%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

38.62%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.00%

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

$268 $268

$264 $264

1.68%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.0 $53.0

14.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$60.2 $60.2

26.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.56 $42.56

83.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$14.21 $14.21

11.33%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,193 $1,193

88.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$46.63 $46.63

51.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$34.11 $34.11

55.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$89.4 $89.4

31.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$89.4 $89.4

55.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,961 $1,961

17.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$2,101 $2,101

-11.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$3,203 $3,203

47.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$3,768 $3,768

-5.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$5,129 $5,129

28.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Fontana, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,961 in Fontana, 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 28% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $81 in Fontana, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $435 – making Fontana, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Fontana, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 6% more than Fontana, CA, 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $5,191 in Fontana, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fontana, CA, 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 $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $3,460 in Fontana, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 116% less in Fontana, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $3,460 in Fontana, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fontana, CA costs $3,460 versus $3,661 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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