Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Monterey Park, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Monterey Park, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,860 in Monterey Park, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,730 in Monterey Park, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $6,600 in Monterey Park, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 26% more expensive than Monterey Park, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Monterey Park, CA 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$24.82 $24.82

-0.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$84.2 $84.2

39.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.07 $12.07

14.08%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.94 $4.94

15.59%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.72 $2.72

12.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.24 $2.24

11.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.22 $8.22

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.95 $6.95

13.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.25 $1.25

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.97 $3.97

27.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.10 $4.10

31.46%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$6.87 $6.87

-0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.74 $12.74

96.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$8.77 $8.77

80.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.76 $14.76

39.50%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.52 $3.52

74.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.88 $1.88

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$3.97 $3.97

38.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$5.03 $5.03

34.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.98 $2.98

5.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.51 $2.51

52.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.86 $1.86

44.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.17 $2.17

21.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.19 $11.19

4.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.90 $14.90

5.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.58 $2.58

13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.13 $3.13

35.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.96 $1.96

43.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.13 $3.13

-16.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$29.74 $29.74

1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.29 $1.29

-7.75%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

37.48%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.38%

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

$263 $263

$240 $240

9.51%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$66.7 $66.7

-8.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$70.3 $70.3

7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.78 $43.78

81.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$13.74 $13.74

18.41%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,193 $1,193

91.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$24.2K $24.2K

21.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$56.5 $56.5

21.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$47.29 $47.29

9.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$103 $103

12.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$148 $148

-3.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,623 $1,623

43.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,549 $1,549

20.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,656 $2,656

74.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$3,673 $3,673

-5.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,595 $2,595

199.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,450 $2,450

113.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$2,854 $2,854

131.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.49

-1.08%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Monterey Park, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,623 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 132% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $84.0 in Monterey Park, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $389 per month, with Monterey Park, 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 Monterey Park, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monterey Park, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Monterey Park, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 132% 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,623 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,860 in Monterey Park, CA – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Monterey Park, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Monterey Park, CA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,860 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monterey Park, CA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Monterey Park, 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 Monterey Park, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.