Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pomona, CA: $2,729 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index
132

Cost of Living Index in Pomona, CA
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Pomona, CA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Pomona, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,729

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Pomona, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Pomona, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,785 in Seattle, WA versus $2,729 in Pomona, CA.

Seattle, WA $3,785
Pomona, CA $2,729

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,688 in Seattle, WA versus $4,196 in Pomona, CA.

Seattle, WA $5,688
Pomona, CA $4,196

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,592 in Seattle, WA versus $5,663 in Pomona, CA.

Seattle, WA $7,592
Pomona, CA $5,663

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 39% more expensive than in Pomona, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 178% above, Pomona, CA 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.30 $25.30

$27.85 $27.85

-9.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.0 $75.0

34.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$10.03 $10.03

47.16%

Cappuccino

$6.50 $6.50

$5.32 $5.32

22.18%

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

$3.21 $3.21

$1.71 $1.71

87.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.27 $1.27

147.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.86 $4.86

63.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$5.81 $5.81

39.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.29 $1.29

-9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.82 $3.82

38.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$2.94 $2.94

117.69%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$2.94 $2.94

72.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$13.71 $13.71

36.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$13.03 $13.03

43.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.88 $22.88

$12.25 $12.25

86.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.32 $3.32

82.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.34 $1.34

45.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.35 $2.35

134.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.23 $2.23

192.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.77 $1.77

97.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.72 $1.72

91.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.13 $1.13

147.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.75 $1.75

47.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.49 $12.49

$10.80 $10.80

15.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.44 $13.44

10.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.59 $1.59

163.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 $5.80

$2.76 $2.76

110.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.30 $2.30

32.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$19.30 $19.30

448.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.55 $3.55

-27.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.82 $1.82

-9.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.12 $30.12

$24.44 $24.44

23.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.35 $1.35

4.44%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$30.3K $30.3K

21.32%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.08%

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

$308 $308

$247 $247

24.48%

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

$69.2 $69.2

$60.3 $60.3

14.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 $86.1

$47.98 $47.98

79.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.5 $76.5

$20.25 $20.25

277.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

$40.64 $40.64

-12.65%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.18 $12.18

47.95%

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

$2,746 $2,746

$557 $557

393.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$8,257 $8,257

270.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 $79.2

$31.17 $31.17

153.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 $54.3

$34.96 $34.96

55.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$72.2 $72.2

75.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$91.4 $91.4

73.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 $2,508

$1,927 $1,927

30.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,482 $1,482

30.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,117 $5,117

$3,482 $3,482

46.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 $3,542

$2,898 $2,898

22.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$19.2K $19.2K

-61.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,002 $5,002

$4,453 $4,453

12.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,470 $6,470

$3,623 $3,623

78.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.89

6.5

6.00%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Pomona, CA: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2%

Pomona, CA

$1.5K 54.3% 23.5% $456

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5%

Pomona, CA

$337 12.4% 38.3% $210

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2%

Pomona, CA

$355 13% 23.2% $107

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7%

Pomona, CA

$365 13.4% 10.3% $42

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

Pomona, CA

$103 3.8% 45.2% $85

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4%

Pomona, CA

$41 1.5% 68.1% $88

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$112 3%

Pomona, CA

$45 1.6% 60.3% $68

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,508 in Seattle, WA and $1,927 in Pomona, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 79% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $75 in Pomona, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $337 per month, with Pomona, CA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 Pomona, CA

🕒 Local time

16:55 4:55 PM

Same time as Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

154,271

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Seattle, WA Pomona, CA 1,550 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
Pomona, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Total monthly costs including rent come to $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $2,729 in Pomona, CA, so Pomona, CA is about 28% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

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: $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $1,927 in Pomona, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pomona, CA – a meal for two runs $75 versus $101 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 28% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.