Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Long Beach, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Long Beach, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,661 in Seattle, WA versus $3,378 in Long Beach, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,544 in Seattle, WA versus $4,829 in Long Beach, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,427 in Seattle, WA versus $6,280 in Long Beach, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 8% more expensive than Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 173% above, Long Beach, CA 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$18.11 $18.11

39.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$80.0 $80.0

51.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$15.06 $15.06

-6.31%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$5.15 $5.15

13.01%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.93 $2.93

1.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.26 $2.26

6.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$7.31 $7.31

5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$8.12 $8.12

-3.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.17 $1.17

14.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.08 $4.08

20.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.31 $4.31

19.26%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.84 $3.84

71.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$12.31 $12.31

100.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$12.78 $12.78

24.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$15.25 $15.25

32.07%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.56 $4.56

37.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.71 $1.71

67.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.06 $4.06

30.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.89 $4.89

30.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.00 $3.00

7.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.48 $2.48

54.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.08 $2.08

31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.15 $2.15

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$11.12 $11.12

4.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.08 $15.08

4.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.75 $1.75

64.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.53 $2.53

73.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.71 $1.71

61.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$67.8 $67.8

45.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.96 $2.96

-9.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$4.39 $4.39

-61.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$27.74 $27.74

7.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.30 $1.30

-12.31%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$25.4K $25.4K

29.79%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

-5.44%

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

$268 $268

$159 $159

68.57%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.0 $53.0

15.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$58.6 $58.6

30.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$38.98 $38.98

100.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$15.01 $15.01

5.40%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,490 $1,490

51.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$28.7K $28.7K

3.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$48.11 $48.11

47.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$33.79 $33.79

57.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$99.6 $99.6

17.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$104 $104

33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$2,384 $2,384

-3.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$2,078 $2,078

-11.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$3,611 $3,611

31.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$3,343 $3,343

6.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$7,131 $7,131

9.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$6,865 $6,865

-22.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$4,425 $4,425

48.58%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Long Beach, CA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,310 in Seattle, WA and $2,384 in Long Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $121 in Seattle, WA vs $80 in Long Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $539 vs $397 per month, with Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Long Beach, CA differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($3,661 vs $3,378 including rent). Long Beach, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 49% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $2,384 in Long Beach, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Long Beach, CA – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $121 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,378 in Long Beach, CA – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Long Beach, 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.

Expats usually find Long Beach, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.