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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,626 in Ontario, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,222 in Ontario, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,818 in Ontario, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 36% more expensive than in Ontario, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Ontario, CA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$18.34 $18.34

35.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$80.5 $80.5

47.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$11.78 $11.78

20.12%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.11 $5.11

11.74%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.78 $2.78

5.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.94 $6.94

13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.16 $7.16

12.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.11 $1.11

22.52%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.98 $3.98

27.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.17 $4.17

25.90%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.06 $4.06

70.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$10.45 $10.45

138.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$8.58 $8.58

83.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.26 $14.26

45.30%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.46 $3.46

78.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.74 $1.74

60.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.99 $3.99

38.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.66 $5.66

13.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.24 $3.24

-2.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.92 $2.92

33.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.46 $1.46

84.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.18 $2.18

16.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.19 $11.19

1.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$16.28 $16.28

-3.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.91 $1.91

50.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.40 $3.40

25.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$6.48 $6.48

-60.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$4.45 $4.45

-63.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$28.92 $28.92

2.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.23 $1.23

-7.32%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

30.08%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$29.2K $29.2K

-9.60%

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

$264 $264

$254 $254

4.00%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$47.22 $47.22

30.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$59.5 $59.5

26.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$102 $102

-23.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$14.27 $14.27

12.89%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,228 $1,228

80.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

24.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$48.20 $48.20

43.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.96 $33.96

58.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$86.3 $86.3

38.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$85.1 $85.1

66.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$1,864 $1,864

26.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,355 $1,355

35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$2,829 $2,829

65.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,845 $2,845

25.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$3,997 $3,997

88.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$3,587 $3,587

40.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,624 $3,624

78.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ontario, CA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $1,864 in Ontario, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 79% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Ontario, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $369 per month, with Ontario, 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 Ontario, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ontario, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 79% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $1,864 in Ontario, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,626 in Ontario, CA – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ontario, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Ontario, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Ontario, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.