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: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $3,429 in Long Beach, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $4,872 in Long Beach, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $6,315 in Long Beach, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 5% more expensive than in Long Beach, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Long Beach, CA 157% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$18.36 $18.36

34.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$80.5 $80.5

51.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$15.16 $15.16

-7.52%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.13 $5.13

8.38%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.02 $3.02

0.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.26 $2.26

5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.39 $7.39

7.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.05 $8.05

0.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.11 $1.11

24.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.22 $4.22

17.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.40 $4.40

21.59%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$3.92 $3.92

68.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$11.99 $11.99

107.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$12.56 $12.56

26.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$15.26 $15.26

32.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.59 $4.59

34.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.72 $1.72

60.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.03 $4.03

33.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.88 $4.88

33.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.05 $3.05

5.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.49 $2.49

50.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.01 $2.01

41.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.10 $2.10

24.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$10.96 $10.96

6.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$15.23 $15.23

1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.75 $1.75

61.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.47 $2.47

72.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.71 $1.71

61.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$70.2 $70.2

39.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.97 $2.97

-12.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$4.37 $4.37

-62.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$28.37 $28.37

4.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.30 $1.30

-12.31%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$25.1K $25.1K

32.20%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.20%

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

$270 $270

$161 $161

67.83%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$54.9 $54.9

8.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$59.6 $59.6

24.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$38.81 $38.81

100.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$15.00 $15.00

5.20%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,489 $1,489

53.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$28.3K $28.3K

5.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$48.13 $48.13

45.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$34.25 $34.25

52.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$99.3 $99.3

18.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$104 $104

38.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$2,367 $2,367

-1.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$2,057 $2,057

-7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$3,593 $3,593

32.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$3,300 $3,300

5.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$7,242 $7,242

6.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$7,006 $7,006

-28.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$4,352 $4,352

52.59%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Long Beach, CA: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $2,367 in Long Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 53% 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: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $80.0 in Long Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $396 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 5% in total monthly costs ($3,604 vs $3,429 including rent). Long Beach, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 53% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $2,367 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 $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,429 in Long Beach, CA – a 5% 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 5% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.