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: $3,634 in Seattle, WA versus $2,801 in Lompoc, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,545 in Seattle, WA versus $3,870 in Lompoc, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,456 in Seattle, WA versus $4,940 in Lompoc, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 30% more expensive than Lompoc, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Lompoc, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$17.73 $17.73

39.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$81.2 $81.2

45.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$15.23 $15.23

-9.52%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.26 $5.26

6.65%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$3.66 $3.66

-21.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.21 $2.21

11.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$7.07 $7.07

12.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.84 $7.84

4.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.93 $0.93

49.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.79 $2.79

74.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.60 $4.60

12.17%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$3.79 $3.79

74.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$12.29 $12.29

103.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$16.41 $16.41

-3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$15.39 $15.39

32.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.40 $4.40

41.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.72 $1.72

59.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$5.28 $5.28

0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.55 $5.55

16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.23 $3.23

-4.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.82 $2.82

36.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.02 $1.02

169.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.16 $2.16

18.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$10.81 $10.81

5.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$18.35 $18.35

-15.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.92 $1.92

47.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.41 $3.41

24.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$6.72 $6.72

-61.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.77 $2.77

-37.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.54 $29.54

2.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.14 $1.14

0.88%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

31.76%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$28.7K $28.7K

-7.71%

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

$263 $263

$158 $158

66.13%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$54.6 $54.6

10.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$58.2 $58.2

27.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$42.18 $42.18

91.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$14.99 $14.99

6.14%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,492 $1,492

52.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$46.83 $46.83

49.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.78 $33.78

59.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$101 $101

18.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$103 $103

38.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,828 $1,828

26.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,553 $1,553

17.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,155 $2,155

117.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,158 $2,158

61.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$7,925 $7,925

-17.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.2

3.55%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lompoc, CA: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,312 in Seattle, WA and $1,828 in Lompoc, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lompoc, CA pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Lompoc, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $415 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 30% in total monthly costs ($3,634 vs $2,801 including rent). Lompoc, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Lompoc, CA earns 21% less. 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: $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,828 in Lompoc, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,492 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 $81.0 versus $119 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 30% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.