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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,502 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,578 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,494 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,654 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 44% more than Monrovia, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Monrovia, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Monrovia, CA by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$15.11 $15.11

64.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$35.33 $35.33

244.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.10 $10.10

38.81%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.98 $4.98

11.65%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.94 $1.94

57.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.10 $2.10

13.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.04 $8.04

-1.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.65 $8.65

-6.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.03 $1.03

33.98%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.54 $5.54

-10.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.46 $4.46

19.96%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$4.55 $4.55

44.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$11.17 $11.17

122.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$4.47 $4.47

256.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$14.65 $14.65

37.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.43 $6.43

-4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.84 $1.84

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.17 $2.17

147.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.15 $2.15

203.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.23 $2.23

43.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.26 $2.26

65.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.01 $2.01

41.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.98 $0.98

167.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.37 $9.37

24.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$9.82 $9.82

57.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.78 $1.78

58.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.71 $4.71

-9.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.96 $1.96

40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$19.92 $19.92

390.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.93 $3.93

-33.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.67 $2.67

-38.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$31.73 $31.73

-6.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.24 $1.24

-8.06%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

48.29%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$22.4K $22.4K

15.78%

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

$270 $270

$200 $200

34.93%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$54.4 $54.4

9.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$50.8 $50.8

46.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$43.66 $43.66

77.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$14.23 $14.23

10.89%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,838 $1,838

23.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$40.2K $40.2K

-25.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$15.07 $15.07

363.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$40.45 $40.45

29.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$78.3 $78.3

50.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$155 $155

-7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,622 $1,622

43.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,373 $1,373

38.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,590 $2,590

83.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,228 $2,228

55.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$3,062 $3,062

151.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,340 $2,340

112.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

$5,923 $5,923

12.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.69

-4.04%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Monrovia, CA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,622 in Monrovia, 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 12% 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 $122 in Seattle, WA versus $35.00 in Monrovia, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $541 vs $333 – making Monrovia, 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 Monrovia, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA, $2,502 in Monrovia, CA – roughly 44% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,407 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,753 in Monrovia, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monrovia, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Seattle, WA and $35.00 in Monrovia, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,502 in Monrovia, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,604 in Seattle, WA and $2,502 in Monrovia, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,502 in Monrovia, CA to $3,604 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Monrovia, 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.