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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,740 in Pomona, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,158 in Pomona, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,577 in Pomona, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 31% more expensive than Pomona, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Pomona, CA 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$23.05 $23.05

7.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$59.0 $59.0

99.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$12.04 $12.04

14.37%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.96 $5.96

-4.19%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.80 $1.80

69.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.24 $1.24

101.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.17 $8.17

-4.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$9.08 $9.08

-13.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.21 $1.21

11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.56 $3.56

42.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.28 $4.28

25.93%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$3.05 $3.05

124.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$10.96 $10.96

128.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$12.43 $12.43

27.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$10.85 $10.85

89.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.34 $3.34

83.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.18 $1.18

138.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.58 $2.58

113.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.17 $2.17

210.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.12 $1.12

181.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$0.86 $0.86

344.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.98 $0.98

174.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.91 $1.91

38.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$9.82 $9.82

18.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.22 $15.22

3.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.81 $1.81

61.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.44 $2.44

73.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.03 $2.03

38.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.99 $2.99

-13.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.80 $2.80

-38.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$27.68 $27.68

9.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.32 $1.32

-9.85%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

10.74%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.09%

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

$263 $263

$275 $275

-4.45%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$67.2 $67.2

-9.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$49.20 $49.20

54.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$43.42 $43.42

83.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$40.13 $40.13

-0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.05 $15.05

8.11%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,619 $1,619

40.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$28.5K $28.5K

3.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$47.71 $47.71

43.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$53.4 $53.4

-2.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$99.5 $99.5

16.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$91.7 $91.7

56.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,017 $2,017

15.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,472 $1,472

26.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,447 $3,447

34.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,938 $2,938

18.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$18.7K $18.7K

-58.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$4,446 $4,446

17.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,624 $3,624

82.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.39

0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Pomona, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,017 in Pomona, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 83% 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 $59.0 in Pomona, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $326 per month, with Pomona, 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 Pomona, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA and Pomona, CA differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($3,598 vs $2,740 including rent). Pomona, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Seattle, WA pays 83% 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 $2,017 in Pomona, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $1,619 in Pomona, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pomona, CA – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Pomona, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Pomona, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.