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 $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,535 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,580 in Monrovia, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,626 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 173%, Monrovia, CA by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.05 $15.05

68.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$34.42 $34.42

252.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.05 $10.05

40.40%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.86 $4.86

19.75%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$1.98 $1.98

50.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.06 $2.06

16.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$8.16 $8.16

-5.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$9.03 $9.03

-12.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.08 $1.08

24.07%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.64 $5.64

-12.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.53 $4.53

13.47%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$4.55 $4.55

44.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$11.10 $11.10

121.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$4.48 $4.48

254.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$14.77 $14.77

36.36%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.31 $6.31

-0.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.85 $1.85

54.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.22 $2.22

138.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$2.26 $2.26

182.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.26 $2.26

42.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.16 $2.16

77.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.02 $2.02

35.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.02 $1.02

152.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.65 $9.65

20.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$9.82 $9.82

60.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.69 $1.69

70.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.67 $4.67

-6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.97 $1.97

40.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$20.13 $20.13

390.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.97 $3.97

-32.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.80 $2.80

-39.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$32.16 $32.16

-7.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.29 $1.29

-11.63%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$22.2K $22.2K

48.20%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$21.8K $21.8K

18.89%

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

$268 $268

$198 $198

35.50%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$53.6 $53.6

13.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$50.8 $50.8

49.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$43.04 $43.04

81.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.76 $13.76

14.97%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$1,859 $1,859

21.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$40.4K $40.4K

-26.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$15.09 $15.09

368.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$40.90 $40.90

29.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$76.9 $76.9

52.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$157 $157

-11.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,619 $1,619

42.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,336 $1,336

38.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,633 $2,633

79.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,180 $2,180

63.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

$2,317 $2,317

235.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

$2,388 $2,388

124.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$6,051 $6,051

8.66%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Monrovia, CA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,619 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 9% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $34 in Monrovia, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $335 – 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: $3,661 in Seattle, WA, $2,535 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,802 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 $121 in Seattle, WA and $34.00 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 $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,535 in Monrovia, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Monrovia, CA, where all-in costs run around $2,535, than in Seattle, WA at $3,661. In Monrovia, CA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,535 in Monrovia, CA to $3,661 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.