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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $3,253 in Oxnard, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $4,271 in Oxnard, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $5,289 in Oxnard, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 19% more expensive than in Oxnard, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Oxnard, CA 138% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$19.88 $19.88

25.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$64.2 $64.2

55.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.72 $12.72

18.40%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.81 $5.81

9.64%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.03 $3.03

1.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.44 $2.44

22.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.76 $7.76

0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$10.02 $10.02

-18.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.31 $1.31

-7.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.44 $5.44

-8.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.77 $4.77

33.96%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$5.76 $5.76

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$12.14 $12.14

73.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.06 $13.06

40.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$19.97 $19.97

20.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.51 $4.51

30.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.85 $1.85

1.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.48 $4.48

18.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.02 $5.02

28.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.24 $3.24

13.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.93 $1.93

74.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.12 $2.12

31.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.20 $2.20

17.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$10.08 $10.08

38.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$16.65 $16.65

-9.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.76 $1.76

143.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.14 $3.14

86.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.51 $1.51

93.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.09 $3.09

-16.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.09 $2.09

-17.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$27.54 $27.54

10.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.21 $1.21

15.70%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.6K $36.6K

-1.40%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.52%

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

$299 $299

$132 $132

126.34%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$53.5 $53.5

29.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$68.9 $68.9

27.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$62.3 $62.3

28.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$15.54 $15.54

13.90%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,191 $1,191

153.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

-13.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$37.14 $37.14

108.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$58.0 $58.0

-4.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$61.0 $61.0

110.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$80.4 $80.4

98.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$2,028 $2,028

22.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,974 $1,974

-2.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$3,268 $3,268

45.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$2,469 $2,469

47.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$5,936 $5,936

27.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$5,936 $5,936

-13.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,381 $3,381

83.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.1

5.74%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Oxnard, CA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $2,028 in Oxnard, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 84% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $64.0 in Oxnard, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $445 per month, with Oxnard, 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 Oxnard, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oxnard, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 84% 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $2,028 in Oxnard, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,253 in Oxnard, CA – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Oxnard, 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 Oxnard, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.