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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $2,735 in Pomona, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $4,175 in Pomona, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $5,615 in Pomona, CA.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 30% more expensive than in Pomona, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Pomona, CA 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$22.90 $22.90

8.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$57.5 $57.5

106.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$12.06 $12.06

17.33%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.01 $6.01

-4.99%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$1.76 $1.76

66.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.27 $1.27

98.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.10 $8.10

-2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$9.10 $9.10

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.22 $1.22

11.48%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.55 $3.55

42.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.32 $4.32

21.53%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$2.93 $2.93

135.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$10.80 $10.80

131.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$12.64 $12.64

24.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$10.82 $10.82

91.50%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.32 $3.32

86.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.20 $1.20

132.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.71 $2.71

103.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.14 $2.14

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.07 $1.07

195.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$0.86 $0.86

352.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.01 $1.01

167.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.82 $9.82

15.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.77 $14.77

6.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.76 $1.76

63.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.55 $2.55

67.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.96 $1.96

38.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.92 $2.92

-11.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.70 $2.70

-39.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$28.07 $28.07

5.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.29 $1.29

-11.63%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

11.44%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.1K $27.1K

-2.54%

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

$264 $264

$278 $278

-5.02%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$67.0 $67.0

-8.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$49.41 $49.41

52.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$43.54 $43.54

79.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$40.77 $40.77

-1.20%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$15.28 $15.28

5.43%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$1,657 $1,657

33.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$29.1K $29.1K

-0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$47.65 $47.65

45.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$54.4 $54.4

-1.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$101 $101

17.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$91.6 $91.6

54.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$2,030 $2,030

16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$1,430 $1,430

28.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,500 $3,500

33.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$2,905 $2,905

22.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$19.2K $19.2K

-60.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$4,463 $4,463

13.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,608 $3,608

79.43%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pomona, CA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $2,030 in Pomona, 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 $58.0 in Pomona, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 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 30% in total monthly costs ($3,565 vs $2,735 including rent). Pomona, CA is meaningfully more affordable – 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $2,030 in Pomona, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,212 in Seattle, WA versus $1,657 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 $58.0 versus $119 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 30% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.