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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,153 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $7,160 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $9,167 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

Seattle, WA is about 30% cheaper than Newport Beach, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Newport Beach, CA sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Newport Beach, CA by 287%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$24.77 $24.77

1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$101 $101

16.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$11.85 $11.85

16.12%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.22 $5.22

12.07%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.68 $2.68

13.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.02 $2.02

18.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.08 $7.08

12.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.28 $8.28

-5.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.19 $1.19

16.81%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.74 $5.74

-15.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.05 $4.05

27.90%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$5.38 $5.38

24.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$10.83 $10.83

133.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$8.97 $8.97

77.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$14.66 $14.66

37.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.39 $3.39

82.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.83 $1.83

57.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.82 $3.82

43.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.50 $5.50

16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.16 $3.16

-2.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.08 $3.08

23.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.44 $1.44

94.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.04 $2.04

27.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$9.47 $9.47

20.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$14.71 $14.71

5.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.78 $1.78

67.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.50 $4.50

-6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.47 $1.47

82.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$93.2 $93.2

8.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.08 $4.08

-34.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.77 $2.77

-38.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$31.80 $31.80

-7.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.27 $1.27

-10.24%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

39.99%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.59%

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

$261 $261

$199 $199

31.42%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$54.8 $54.8

10.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$70.5 $70.5

7.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$119 $119

-33.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$27.70 $27.70

44.69%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.74 $13.74

15.14%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,738 $1,738

27.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$36.0K $36.0K

-17.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$55.0 $55.0

26.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$35.22 $35.22

47.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$77.9 $77.9

50.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$85.7 $85.7

62.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$4,136 $4,136

-43.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$3,766 $3,766

-50.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$6,881 $6,881

-31.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$5,740 $5,740

-37.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$15.9K $15.9K

-51.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$16.2K $16.2K

-68.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$6,313 $6,313

3.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.65

-3.46%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Newport Beach, CA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $4,136 in Newport Beach, 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 3% higher in Seattle, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $101 in Newport Beach, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $392 – making Newport Beach, 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 Newport Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Newport Beach, CA is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $7,729 in Newport Beach, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 8% less in Seattle, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,738 in Newport Beach, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $5,153 in Newport Beach, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Seattle, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newport Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.