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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,868 in Lompoc, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,984 in Lompoc, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $5,100 in Lompoc, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 36% more expensive than in Lompoc, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Lompoc, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$20.10 $20.10

26.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$70.0 $70.0

44.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.23 $14.23

4.01%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$5.08 $5.08

30.51%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.07 $3.07

0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.15 $2.15

37.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.87 $6.87

15.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.93 $8.93

-11.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.92 $0.92

32.61%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.78 $2.78

84.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.52 $4.52

36.28%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$3.99 $3.99

27.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$10.91 $10.91

95.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$9.10 $9.10

102.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$15.64 $15.64

47.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.85 $4.85

24.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.15 $2.15

-12.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.28 $4.28

21.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.59 $3.59

77.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$6.29 $6.29

-39.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.80 $2.80

17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$0.97 $0.97

195.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.78 $2.78

-4.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$12.10 $12.10

14.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$18.23 $18.23

-17.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.29 $2.29

82.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$6.63 $6.63

-14.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$4.29 $4.29

-40.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.59 $1.59

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$27.48 $27.48

7.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.29 $1.29

13.18%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.6K $37.6K

-4.20%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.93%

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

$306 $306

$237 $237

29.28%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$52.8 $52.8

32.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$74.9 $74.9

16.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$25.33 $25.33

215.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$17.31 $17.31

3.12%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,164 $1,164

159.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$13.1K $13.1K

138.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$59.6 $59.6

28.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$44.37 $44.37

21.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$96.0 $96.0

30.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$174 $174

-6.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,838 $1,838

33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,587 $1,587

24.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$3,001 $3,001

62.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$2,181 $2,181

66.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$7,943 $7,943

-22.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.03

6.97%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lompoc, CA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,838 in Lompoc, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lompoc, CA pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $70.0 in Lompoc, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $391 per month, with Lompoc, CA cheaper across the board.

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 Lompoc, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Lompoc, CA differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($3,886 vs $2,868 including rent). Lompoc, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Lompoc, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,838 in Lompoc, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,018 in Seattle, WA versus $1,164 in Lompoc, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lompoc, CA – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lompoc, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Lompoc, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lompoc, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.